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Wednesday 15 May 2013 5 Rajab 1434 - Volume 18 Number 5700 Price: QR2

QP subsidiary Eljaish held to renamed 1-1 draw by Alwaseeta Saudi’s Al Ahli

Business | 17 Sport | 28

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Heir Apparent receives AFC president Plan for more New facility floors on D-Ring Road rejected

DOHA: The Ministry of Municipality and Urban planned to Planning has turned down a proposal by the Central Municipal Council (CMC) to allow more floors for buildings on the D-Ring Road. CMC Chairman Saud Al house strays Hanzab said that he had received a letter from the Minister of Municipality and Urban Planning 57,000 cats caught in seven years HE Sheikh Abdul Rahman bin Khalifa Al Thani in this regard. DOHA: A state-run stray con- making animal protection com- The proposal has been rejected trol and animal protection pulsory in the GCC was ready and on the ground that adding more department has caught some could be enforced sooner rather floors to buildings on this major 57,000 stray cats from the coun- than later. highway could undermine urban try’s streets in the past seven The CMC, meanwhile, urged and transportation plans for the years. the Ministry of Municipality and area and the city, the Minister And since 2010, the number Urban Planning to provide a plot The Heir Apparent H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, also Chairman of Qatar Olympic Committee, received told the CMC, Al Sharq reported of stray dogs caught by the of land on lease or a ready facility Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa at the Emiri Diwan yester- yesterday. department at the Ministry of to Qatar Animal Welfare Society, day. The Heir Apparent congratulated him on winning the presidency of the AFC and the membership of the Building highrise structures Environment totals 354, a senior a voluntary organisation set up Executive Office of the International Federation of Football Associations. will require redesigning water official has said. by some animal-loving expatri- supply, electricity and sewage The department was set up to ates in 2004. networks in the area and could initially control the stray cat pop- The society is facing financial affect traffic. ulation due to their uncontrolled problems and is not in a position So it has been decided to main- breeding and hazards they posed to renew its rent contract for the tain the status quo for buildings to people’s safety and the environ- premises, the CMC said in rec- on the highway, said the daily. ment. In 2010, authorities began ommendations forwarded to the 94,000 dead in Syria: NGO catching stray dogs as well, a ministry. The civic and environ- Messi arriving for consultant at the department, Dr ment ministries must coordinate BEIRUT: More than 94,000 the number of casualties among Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Yusuf Radwan, told the Central and find a suitable solution to people have been killed in more the ranks of the Alawite commu- Lavrov told Kerry that Assad had Ooredoo event Municipal Council (CMC). the woes the society is facing, the than two years of conflict in nity was much higher than the “already given him the names Radwan said the strays were CMC said. Syria, the Syrian Observatory observatory’s statistics which of people who will negotiate,” DOHA: Ooredoo global brand caught and dealt with in accord- It also urged the government to for Human Rights said in a were published two days ago”. Kerry said. He and Lavrov have ambassador Lionel Messi is ance with international law, and register the society as a non-profit newly-revised toll yesterday. On Sunday, the Britain-based been working in tandem since set to visit Qatar to launch an avoiding any cruelty to them. non-governmental organisation. The watchdog said it revised watchdog, which relies on a vast announcing in Moscow last week international initiative later He said the government had “The society deserves the gov- the toll — two days after it network of activists and medics plans for a conference to map a this month, the company said in allocated funds in the budget ernment’s support for the good announced a tally of 82,257 dead on the ground, put the death toll path towards a political transi- a statement yesterday. estimates for the fiscal year 2012- work it is doing,” CMC Vice- — after receiving new information since the March 2011 start of the tion and ending the bloody con- “The football star will make a 13 to build a huge facility where Chairman and head of services from regime-controlled Alawite anti-regime uprising at 82,257, flict now in its third year. major announcement at a special strays caught would be housed. committee, Jassem Al Malki, said. areas of the Sunni-majority including 34,473 civilians. Who will attend the confer- ceremony with Ooredoo on May The department has inked a The recommendations are an country. Meanwhile, plans to convene ence, where it will be held and 20, and will take part in activi- deal with the World Society for outcome of a meeting Kelly Allen, “Based on this information, a new peace conference on Syria when, are yet to be determined, ties to promote sport and connect the Protection of Animals for a member of the society, had with the number of martyrs and dead were gathering pace amid a round State Department spokesman with the community,” Ooredoo cooperation to take care of stray CMC members on April 29, it is killed since the beginning of the of intense diplomacy, as US offi- Patrick Ventrell said. said. animals once the facility is ready. learnt. Syrian revolution is more than cials said the regime appeared Kerry warned earlier in a press He will host a football coaching Radwan said the design of the Janet Berry, Chairperson of the 94,000,” it said in a statement. ready to take part. conference in Stockholm that if session for children from Qatar facility was expected to be ready society, told this newspaper yes- The group said it had received US Secretary of State John Assad made another “gross mis- as well as young people from in July this year and the project terday that they were currently new figures from areas, includ- Kerry urged Assad not to squan- calculation” and decided not to Palestine, Indonesia, Iraq, Algeria, would be completed by the sum- taking care of some 250 animals, ing Tartus and Latakia — strong- der the opportunity to come to attend, then it was “clear the Tunisia, Oman, Kuwait and the mer of 2014. “Qatar would thus mostly stray cats and dogs. holds on the Mediterranean the table for negotiations, insist- opposition will be receiving addi- Maldives – all countries in which become a pioneer in the field of She confirmed the society coast of the Alawite minority to ing “enormous plans are being tional support.” Ventrell said “the Ooredoo companies play an active animal welfare in the Middle didn’t have any funding sources. which President Bashar Al Assad laid” for what has been dubbed bottom line is that our assistance role in enhancing opportunities East,” the official told the CMC. The rent contract ends on May belongs. Geneva II. to the Syrian opposition is on an for the youth. He pointed out that a draft law 31. THE PENINSULA The information showed “that In a possible sign of progress, upward trajectory”. AGENCIES THE PENINSULA

Naqba marked Qatar moves to Hotter days ahead in Qatar DOHA: Hotter days are ahead, with strong northwesterly winds 101st place in expected to lash the country, causing a further rise in temperature. The heat wave is part of a seasonal phenomenon locally known as Al Bawareh that would affect Qatar between the end of May and mid- FIFA rankings July, reaching its peak during the second half of June, the Meteorology Department said yesterday. ZURICH: Qatar has moved up Temperature rose to 40 degrees Celsius yesterday and is expected one place to 101 in the latest to reach 41 degrees tomorrow. Al Bawareh will be marked by recur- FIFA rankings issued by foot- ring heat waves, each extending from three to 10 days. Strong winds ball governing body. might lead to high seas and an increase in temperature, said the Two months ago, Qatar was department. ranked 102, the position now Dust winds may bring down visibility to as low as 1km or less in open occupied by Oman. places during day time, with chances of some improvement at night. The United Arab Emirates The department has advised people to take extra caution, especially ranks the best in the GCC at 89th in open areas. position. Saudi Arabia is at 109 Temperature in Doha, Al Khor, Ruwais, Dukhan and Abu Samra is while Kuwait is ranked 113 and expected to reach 39 degrees Celsius at noon today and may go up to Bahrain is ranked 117th. 40 degrees in Wakrah and Mesaieed. The world’s top 13 teams maintain the status quo. Spain, Germany and Argentina occupy BlackBerry messaging for free the FIFA’s first three spots. DOHA: BlackBerry yesterday said its exclusive messaging service The biggest mover was Palestinian boys rally brandishing burning torches to mark the beginning of the Naqba (Day of Catastrophe), will be available for free on competing devices starting this summer. Grenada, up 20 places, riding on The BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) will be available to iOS and in the old city of Nablus yesterday. It refers to the day on May 15, 1948, when Israel was established following gains of 68 points. Senegal moved Android users, with support planned for iOS6, and Android 4.0 (Ice the Arab-Israeli war, which led to the displacement of the Palestinian people. up 12 places to 76, also moving Cream Sandwich) or higher, the company said during the BlackBerry up 12 places to occupy 140th rank Live 2013 event in Orlando. was St Lucia. South Africa was up In the initial release, iOS and Android users would only be able to six places to 56th spot. Albania experience messaging and group chats. BlackBerry also announced the has moved up five places to 43 Two million sign plea to oust Mursi launch of BlackBerry Q5, a budget device for select emerging markets while Nigeria has moved up three in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Latin America. positions to 28th. “For BlackBerry, messaging and collaboration are inseparable from St Vincent and the Grenadines CAIRO: A campaign call- because he has failed the revolu- want you anymore,” the text the mobile experience, and the time is definitely right for BBM to was the biggest loser, dropping 10 ing for the ouster of Egyptian tion that brought him to power, reads. become a multi-platform mobile service,” Andrew Bocking, Executive places to 131st rank. Japan is the President Mohammed Mursi they said. The petition was “The campaign was launched Vice President, Software Product Management and Ecosystem, at top ranked team in Asia, ranked and early presidential elections launched nearly two weeks ago because the president is no longer BlackBerry, said. at 30. South Korea are ranked has gathered over two million in Cairo’s Tahrir Square. able to manage the country,” “BBM has always been one of the most engaging services for 42nd in the world while Australia signatures, organisers said. “Because security has not Tamarod has called for a mass BlackBerry customers, enabling them to easily connect while main- — the third-best side in Asia — The ‘Tamarod’ (Rebellion in returned, because the poor have protest outside the presidential taining a valued level of personal privacy. We’re excited to offer iOS and are at 47. India dropped one posi- Arabic) seeks to withdraw con- no place, because I have no dig- palace on June 30 when Mursi Android users the possibility to join the BBM community,” he added. tion to 150th. QNA fidence from the Islamist leader nity in my own country... we don’t marks one year in power. AFP THE PENINSULA WEDNESDAY 15 MAY 2013 02 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME

Dr Abdul Sattar Al Taie (left), Executive Director of Qatar National Research Fund, and Faisal Al Suwaidi (centre), President of Research and Development at Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, during the awards ceremony at the fifth Annual Forum, at Qatar National Convention Centre, yesterday. QNRF awards $121m in research funding 137 projects of 27 institutions benefit from 6th round of aid

BY FAZEENA SALEEM collaboration, with bonus points to the peer reviewers’ recommen- awarded to proposals involving dations,” said Noor Al Merekhi, DOHA: Qatar National stakeholders from Qatar’s aca- Program Manager of NPRP. Research Fund (QNRF) yester- demic, government, non-profit, She explained that the grants day announced research grants and industrial sectors,” said Dr were worth between $120,000 and worth $121m for 137 projects Abdul Sattar Al Taie, Executive $1.05m, and at least 65 percent under its flagship programme, Director of QNRF. of the annual budget had to be National Priorities Research The research proposals were expended in Qatar. Likewise, 50 Program (NPRP). selected on a competitive basis percent of the research must be Twenty-seven institutions and underwent an evaluation conducted in Qatar. received funding submitted to process. Each proposal was sent Three new research awards NPRP’s sixth cycle in January, to five independent international will be introduced in the next and 147 international research peer reviewers, who shared their five years — Grand Challenge institutions from 26 countries will evaluation with QNRF for a final Research Program, Small be collaborating in projects. funding decision. Business Innovation Award and Qatar University, Texas A&M “With a 20 percent success Post Doctoral Research Award. University at Qatar and Hamad rate, NPRP’s sixth cycle demon- QNRF also honoured research- Medical Corporation received strates the improving quality of ers and research offices, with the more grants for research propos- research in Qatar. Grants were Best Research Team Award going als of national importance at the awarded based on QNRF’s strict to Weill Cornell Medical College- QNRF’s fifth Annual Forum, held criteria that take into account Qatar and Best Research Office at Qatar National Convention originality and quality of the Award to Texas A&M University Centre. research proposed, alignment with at Qatar. The Best Researcher “This cycle placed particu- Qatar National Research Strategy, Award, introduced this year, was lar emphasis on alignment with potential benefits to Qatar and the given to Dr Khalid Ali Qarage of the Qatar National Research region, and collaboration with other Texas A&M University at Qatar. Strategy and on local research institutions in Qatar, in addition THE PENINSULA

WEDNESDAY 15 MAY 2013 04 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME

Director General of Public Security Staff Maj Gen H E Saad bin Jassim Al Khulaifi and CEO of RasGas Hamad Al Muhannadi signing the agreement. Road Safety Project deal signed

DOHA: RasGas Project Energy and Industry H E support and cooperation for Highway Patrols was Dr Mohammed bin Saleh between the NTSC and Curator William Greenwood (left) briefing about the collection. signed yesterday in the Al Sada. RasGas to contribute in presence of the Minister Director General of reducing traffic accidents of State for Interior Public Security Staff in the country and less- Affairs and president of Maj Gen H E Saad bin ening the ratio of deaths National Traffic Safety Jassim Al Khulaifi and caused by traffic accidents MIA showcases rare Committee (NTSC) H CEO of RasGas Hamad from 14 for every 100,000 E Sheikh Abdullah bin Al Muhannadi signed the person to 10 for every Nasser bin Khalifa Al agreement. 100,000 person. Thani, and Minister of The project aims at THE PENINSULA swords from collection Exhibition of swords at MIA will continue till December 14 Emir greets Paraguay president QMA celebrates DOHA: The Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin DOHA: The Museum of Islamic Art studded with precious stones. The old- centuries. The exhibition also includes Khalifa Al Thani has sent a cable of greetings (MIA) yesterday unveiled a collection est in the collection, a sabre traced to a number of works on paper, showing to the president of the Republic of Paraguay on International of swords valued for their rarity, beauty Central Asia between 8th to 9th Century, swords, their designs and their patrons, his country’s National Day. The Heir Apparent and historical significance at the open- highlights the Crafts section, which tells none of which have been previously dis- H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani has Museum Day ing of “Steel and Gold: Historic Swords the development in design of swords. played and all of which give further con- sent a similar cable to the President of Paraguay. from the MIA Collection”. Steel and Gold expo seeks to exam- text to the objects. The Prime Minister and Foreign Minister H E DOHA: In line with this year’s Ghada Al Sayegh, exhibition coordi- ine the pieces, exploring their compli- “We are particularly excited about Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabor Al Thani International Museum Day nator, said the expo sheds light on the cated histories and introducing visitors the workshops and educational activities has also greeted Paraguay’s president. (IMD) celebrations, Qatar importance of swords not as weapons to the broader questions surrounding for children and the public,” said MIA Museums Authority (QMA) but objects of fashion and masterpieces such pieces. “Arms and armour from the Director, Aisha Al Khater. will hold a public conference as design. The objects, she said belong Islamic world form part of many impor- “This exhibition is in direct response PM congratulates Nawaz Sharif tomorrow at the Museum of to MIA’s permanent collection, most of tant collections worldwide; however, they to requests from our audience. The inter- Islamic Art Auditorium. which have never been on display. have often been overlooked in favour of action between the collection and our DOHA: The Prime Minister and Foreign The conference will highlight The exhibition is divided into four dis- the ‘civilian’ arts” said Greenwood. visitors, through workshops behind the Minister H E Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin the theme of the celebration for tinct parts: History, Characters, Fashion “By examining swords in their histori- scenes and children’s activities, increases Jabor Al Thani yesterday telephoned the chief this year: “Museums (memory + and Crafts. cal, cultural and technological context, knowledge about Islamic art and how it of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) creativity) = social change”. While the History section demon- visitors will better understand other relates to life today and into the future,” Nawaz Sharif and congratulated him on his vic- This year’s theme defines what strates swords as historical objects as parts of the MIA permanent collec- she added. This is MIA’s first exhibition tory in the general election. a museum is today, highlighting texts to understand certain periods, tion, and come away with a more well- created entirely in-house; all the objects the universal nature of muse- the Characters section puts on display rounded understanding of Islamic art are drawn from the MIA’s collection, and ums and its positive influence swords owned by important historical and culture,” he added. the entire design, build, lighting, mount- PM sends message to Oman on society. The conference will personalities of the Islamic world, cura- A further aspect of Steel and Gold is to making, multimedia and other elements explore as well Qatar’s muse- tor William Greenwood told the media show the broad range, both historically were conceived and carried out by MIA MUSCAT: Oman’s Deputy Premier for the ums: the memories they hold, the during a tour before the exhibition and geographically, of the MIA collec- staff. Entry is free to the public to the Cabinet Affairs Fahad bin Mahmoud Al Saeed creativity they inspire, and how opening. tion, featuring swords from as far apart expo which runs until December 14 on has received a written message from Qatar’s they help chart a course for the The Fashion section showcases beau- as the Central Asian steppe and the the fourth floor of MIA. Prime Minister and Foreign Minister H E future. THE PENINSULA tiful sword handles as fashion objects Sahara desert, from the 9th to the 20th THE PENINSULA Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabor Al Thani, pertaining to bilateral relations. The Minister of Economy and Finance H E Yousuf Hussain Kamal handed over the message yesterday. Al Attiyah meets Lebanese envoy PHCC holds workshop on cervical cancer screening

DOHA: The Chairman of Administrative Control DOHA: Over 50 physicians and doctors and nurses knowledge treated when it is found early. screening. In fact, cervical cancer and Transparency Authority H E Abdullah nu r s e s t o ok p a r t i n a fou r-d ay work- and skills on the latest Cervical “Screening tests offer the best is the second major cause of cancer bin Hamad Al Attiyah met yesterday with the shop about cervical cancer screen- Screening Protocol and required chance to detect cervical cancer deaths in women in many develop- Ambassador of Lebanon Hassan Najem on the ing organised by Primary Health forms. at its early stage when successful ing countries. In these cases, women occasion of assuming his duty in Qatar. QNA Care Corporation (PHCC). The This workshop aims to enhance par- treatment is probable. Also, screen- are usually diagnosed with late stage aim of this ticipants’ client pathway to the avail- ing can actually prevent most cer- cancers, rather than pre-cancers or course, able resources in each health center; vical cancers by finding abnormal early cancers. which assuring that PHCC is providing the cervix cell changes so that they can With cancer being the third started finest quality of service, and the ability be treated before they have a chance leading cause of death in the State on May 7 to assess the required resources needed to turn into a cervical cancer”, she of Qatar, Primary Health Care and ended for an appropriate implementation added. Corporation is strongly supporting yesterday, programme. The expert highlighted that cervical the initiative to tackle a rapid and was to Dr Hessa Shahbic, Head of Maternal cancer deaths are higher in popula- definitive diagnosis for suspected improve Health Section, assured that cervi- tions around the world where women cancer cases in Qatar. PHCC cal cancer can often be successfully do not have routine cervical cancer THE PENINSULA

Qatar to get 9 hospitals, 70pc work on F-Ring Road 18 health centres by 2016

DOHA: Qatar will have nine new hospitals, 18 linking Al Wakra completed new primary health centres and two branches of the Medical Commission by 2016, accord- DOHA: The upcom- The expressways however, Al Shamal par- ing to the 2012 annual report of the Supreme ing F-Ring Road link- projects worth QR40bn allel road, Al Huwail and Council of Health (SCH). ing Industrial Area are to be implemented Khor coastal and ring Three of the new hospitals will be under SCH via Doha International over next five to seven road projects are being and the other six hospitals will be managed by Airport Street to the years. implemented. the Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), some of first Al Wakra intersec- The Salwa Road project The company that had which are already under construction. tion is almost 70 percent is about to be completed, designed Dukhan road Two new hospitals — Al Wakra and Cuban ready. and the remaining road has been held respon- Hospital — were opened in 2012 and the number “The project coast- development projects sible for engineering of staff in the health sector rose by 16 percent, Al ing QR836m to develop are F-Ring Road, Al fault caused water log- Sharq said yesterday, quoting the report. the road of F-Ring Road Muntazah, Barwa ging there. Ashghal had THE PENINSULA began in April 2011 and Commercial Street, Old set up a committee to is expected to be com- Al Rayyan road from find out the reason for pleted by third quarter Rayyan to Suq Waqif, water logging after rain. of 2014,” Naser Ghayth Dukhan Expressway and Based on the report of Al Kuwari, Director Lusail Project. the special commit- of Road Development Projects whose tenders tee, the company had Department at Ashghal, have been floated recently been asked to take the said. are southwest corner responsibility for error, “It is a full package of intersection and Al Wakra Al Kuwari told Al Sharq development project that parallel road. A road devel- in an interview. includes main roads (six opment project to connect The consultancies have to eight lanes), service Al Khor with Messaed and been instructed to design roads, drainage and tel- four projects to develop the road according to the ecommunication net- the ring roads are being traffic plan for 30 to 50 works as well electricity invited for tenders. years in a bid to cope with and water services,” Al Al Khor coastal heavy traffic jams. Kuwari said. project is being designed, THE PENINSULA WEDNESDAY 15 MAY 2013 HOME www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 05 Security key to cities’ growth: PM Sixteenth conference of Arab Towns Organisation opens DOHA: Sustainable develop- ment is not possible without cit- ies that are safe from a security, environmental, political and social point of view, the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, H E Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabor Al Thani, has said. Opening the 16th conference of the Arab Towns Organisation (ATO) here yesterday, the Prime Minister said, “Towns with their different sectors and components are the future of the world. They are no more marginalised but are strongly present in the interna- tional scene.” “The world — states, communi- ties and institutions — is moving towards one common aim, which is sustainable development, and it will not be possible without The Prime Minister presenting awards. cities that are secure, stable and balanced in social, economic and environmental dimensions,” he added. The three-day conference has been organised by the Ministry of Municipality and Urban Planning in cooperation with Arab Towns Organisation (ATO). The Prime Minister said ATO was playing an important role that would benefit the Arab world in the long term and provide Arab countries with a suitable environment for production and creativity. One of the main goals of the organisation is to encourage decentralisation and raise the and specialists in the field of conference will focus on the issue ATO Secretary General Yousef quality of local government, said urban development reflects of social justice and how it can Al Adasani appreciated the the Prime Minister. the intent of Arab countries to be achieved through local gov- progress made by Arab countries The main topics to be discussed achieve sustainable development, ernance, rather than focusing on in recent years in developing in the conference will be how particularly as they get ready to development from a purely eco- cities, particularly partnerships best to develop economies and contribute to drafting the post- nomic point of view. made with the private sector and eliminate poverty, said the Prime 2015 UN Development Agenda, The Minister of Municipality non-governmental organisations Minister, adding that the devel- said the Prime Minister. and Urban Planning, H E Sheikh to achieve that. ATO focuses on opment of cities had become an He added that developing cit- Abdul Rahman bin Khalifa Al training workers in municipali- The Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, H E Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem important part of achieving sus- ies had become part of the wider Thani, was among the senior ties to raise their efficiency, said bin Jabor Al Thani, inaugurating the 16th conference of the Arab Towns tainable development. efforts for global development. officials from the participating Al Adasani. Organisation in Doha yesterday. The large turnout of experts He said that this year’s countries present. THE PENINSULA Kahramaa hosts two-day GCC customer services meeting

DOHA: The sixth edi- delegates reviewed propos- services team at the workshop, tion of Customer Services in als from member states on the Engineer Khalid Al Mohannadi, Electricity and Water sectors development of customer serv- delivered a speech highlighting in GCC, organised by Qatar ices booklets and literature. the challenges being faced in this General Electricity and Water They also exchanged ideas and arena across the GCC. Corporation (Kahramaa), experiences pertaining to cus- He welcomed the participat- was inaugurated yesterday tomer satisfaction and customer ing delegates and emphasised by Engineer Essa bin Hilal service improvement. the importance of the annual Al Kuwari, president of the Two presentations were meeting. corporation. screened by Sheikh Al Mulla and The annual event aims at dis- Held under the banner of Aisha Al Mutawaa, respectively, cussing issues related to customer GCC Electricity and Water addressing the use of social media services, including skills and the Conservation and Customer to enhance customer service and role of officials in dealing with Services Committee, the annual develop front desk customer care customers of the vital sectors. event will conclude today with professionals. The objectives of the workshop the participation of GCC-based A presentation on the use of are establishment of services to customer services experts and Oracle applications for multiple improve customer service in pub- professionals from public utilities. and hassle-free customer services lic utilities in the GCC countries, A number of participants rep- was also made by Mike J Ballard, enhancement of customer service resenting their countries through Oracle’s senior director for utili- departments and ensuring cus- public utilities took part in the ties strategy. tomer satisfaction. first day of the workshop. The The head of the customer THE PENINSULA

Engineer Essa bin Hilal Al Kuwari, president of Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (Kahramaa), inaugurating the conference in Doha yesterday. WEDNESDAY 15 MAY 2013 06 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME

Minister meets Algerian commander Vodafone offers pre-owned smartphones at a discount DOHA: Vodafone is offering keypad, GPS and screen rotation, “nearly new” pre-owned smart- advanced functionality, Wi-Fi and phones at a discount to prepaid Bluetooth, software and cosmetics. and postpaid customers, the The “nearly new” offer is company said yesterday. available exclusively at the The offer makes it affordable Vodafone e-shop, www.vodafone. for customers to get a “nearly qa/Nearlynew, with new devices new” smartphone. The offer is added on a regular basis. At aimed at customers who have launch, the nearly new section yet to make the leap to a smart- will offer a selection of iPhones phone or would like to get a sec- with additional brands, tablets ond smartphone. and USB sticks coming soon. “Nearly new” handsets are Due to variations in the returned phones that have been returned handsets, the handset ranges will in very good condition by Vodafone vary on a monthly basis. “Most customers less than seven days importantly, each nearly new after the purchase. All the hand- device is bundled with either a sets come with a six-month war- prepaid or postpaid plan offer- ranty and go through a 60-point ing customers consistent and series of checks and processes fast mobile Internet with great (including a full security wipe) rates per MB and flexible voice, before being placed on the SMS and data packages,” Marc scheme, and are re-boxed. The Norris, Chief Commercial officer quality check includes a review for Vodafone Qatar, said. The Minister of State for Interior Affairs, H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani, who is also commander of the Internal Security Force of the power, display, audio, THE PENINSULA (Lekhwiya), with the commander of the Algerian National Gendarmerie, Major General Ahmed Bustaila. 15,000 tickets sold for Disney On Ice show First such show in Doha, to be held from June 13 to 16, will bring to life 65 characters from Disney stories

DOHA: A total of 15,000 tick- Event organiser Ali Haidary, ets were sold in the first week Founder and CEO of Sport and of sales for the first ever Disney Entertainment Solutions, said On Ice show in Qatar, to be held tickets in several categories, from June 13 to 16 at Qatar which went on sale as part of National Convention Centre. an early bird special offer, were Thousands of people rushed to snapped up first. Virgin Megastore outlets in Doha “We are absolutely delighted and flooded the online ticketing with the tremendous response website during the first week of from the public,” he said. “This ticket sales for the much antici- spectacular event will undoubt- pated extravaganza, “Disney On edly entice and delight audience Ice celebrates 100 Years of Magic.” members of all ages.” “Since tickets went on sale last He added, “There are limited Monday, we have experienced seats still available for various record-breaking sales — clearly shows and we urge everyone to demonstrating the demand for get in early. We don’t want anyone high-quality events in Qatar such to miss out on experiencing what as Disney on Ice,” said Nassim the whole world has seen for over Goraieb, the spokesperson of 15 years.” Virgin Megastores in Doha. Coming to Doha for the first Goraieb added: “We have time, the Disney On Ice celebrates been looking forward to work- 100 Years of Magic tour brings to ing alongside the Disney family life 65 characters from 18 differ- for many months now, as they ent Disney stories. The skating are without a doubt one of the musical features exciting snip- most reputable companies in the pets from The Lion King, Mulan, world. The efforts that have been Aladdin, Pinocchio, and many placed on behalf of the organis- more Disney stories. ers, Sport and Entertainment The tickets are priced at Solutions, and the official part- QR150, QR250 and QR350 for ners, Qatar Tourism Authority, regular seats and QR500 for VIP have been commendable and we seats, while VVIP (rink-side) look forward to joining them in tickets cost QR1,000. future events.” THE PENINSULA People waiting in a queue in front of Virgin Megastore to buy tickets.

Sidra appoints chief nursing officer

DOHA: Dr Mary Boyd, a nurs- ing executive, has joined Sidra Medical and Research Center as Chief Nursing and Allied Health Officer. Dr Boyd will establish the vision for patient care and service delivery and provide leadership in the achievement of a variety of key Sidra initiatives. Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer Dr William F Owen, Jr MD, FACP, her pri- mary areas of responsibility will include coordination and direc- tion of nursing and allied health education and professional prac- Dr Mary Boyd tice, evidence-based care, infec- tion control, and management of clinical resources, such as staffing patients. The staffing structure and scheduling and IV services. will allow for 2.5 staff for each Commenting on the appoint- patient, including a 1:2 nurse to Keith Andrews during his treatment at Aspetar. ment, Dr Owen said: “Dr Boyd is patient ratio. widely recognised as one of the A member of the Qatar foremost nurse executives of her Foundation for Education, Science generation in Ireland, and we are and Community Development, Irish footballer praises Aspetar services delighted she will be bringing her Sidra aims to lead the way in considerable experience to bear establishing best-practice patient DOHA: Irish football player athlete commented: “I have to reputation in the sports medi- and from the minute I stepped at Sidra.” care in Qatar. Keith Andrews has under- admit the whole Aspetar team cine industry,” added the player. off the plane, I was in awe. I hope “She has a proven track record Sidra is based on an American gone intense rehabilitation in has been wonderful, the nurses, Despite remaining relatively to some day return to Qatar, not in establishing quality of service care model and is seeking to staff Aspetar, Qatar’s orthopaedic the sports physicians, physi- injury free during his career, as a patient but as a player for for patients and bringing clinical the hospital with approximately and sports medicine hospital, otherapists, player liaisons, Andrews has been plagued by one of Qatar’s exceptional teams.” governance to the highest stand- 2,000 nurses, including paediatric, recently. The treatment fol- radiologists, everyone. I’ve been an Achilles injury over the last Aspetar is the world’s lead- ard using evidence-based interna- obstetric/gynaecology, NICU, and lowed an Achilles injury the treated very well; I am very few months. Following treatment ing specialised orthopaedic and tional accreditation systems. We operating room nurses. footballer suffered in February. impressed by the amount of tal- at Aspetar, he hopes to quickly sports medicine hospital and the believe these established capabil- Speaking about her new role, Keith Andrews, a midfielder ent that is here.” return to the game. “My priority first in the Middle East. Based ities make her the right person Dr Boyd said: “I am privileged to for Bolton Wanderers and the “Vince Grella, the former now is to get fit and as strong in Doha, Qatar, since 2007, the to oversee the development and be joining the world-class team at Republic of Ireland national Australian professional foot- as I can to be ready for the next hospital provides medical treat- implementation of policies and Sidra at such a pivotal time for team, had visited the hospital for baller, recommended Aspetar. I season. Hopefully I’ll be back on ment to all athletes in a state-of- procedures that will help distin- the organisation, and I passion- three weeks and will return for also have some friends working the field again soon,” he stated. the art facility. In 2009, Aspetar guish Sidra as a world-class insti- ately believe in Sidra’s vision of another three-week programme with Manchester City FC who Andrews hopes to return in was officially accredited as a Fifa tution,” added Owen. creating a medical environment at the end of the month. suggested I receive treatment the near future. He said: “I find Medical Centre of Excellence. Sidra’s all-digital facility will in which the needs of the patient On his first visit to Qatar, the here. The hospital has a great the Qatari culture fascinating THE PENINSULA maximise the time healthcare come first.” professionals spend caring for THE PENINSULA WEDNESDAY 15 MAY 2013 MIDDLE EAST www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 07 Britain grants Kuwait cabinet offers to resign asylum to Ministers boycott parliament session in protest over grilling request Bahraini

KUWAIT CITY: Kuwait’s cab- presence of at least one cabinet blogger inet yesterday offered to resign minister. after MPs filed to grill min- It was the first standoff between OSLO: A Bahraini blogger and isters over a payment to a US the cabinet and MPs seen as loyal human rights activist said he firm, the parliament speaker to the government following the had been granted asylum in said, although it was unclear if December 1 elections boycotted Britain after being in hiding for the premier forwarded the res- by all opposition groups. two years. ignations to the emir. Local media reported yesterday A leading voice among pro- “I was informed that the minis- that Emir H H Sheikh Sabah Al testers during anti-govern- ters have submitted their resigna- Ahmad Al Sabah was expected to ment demonstrations in 2011, tions to the prime minister and invoke a clause in the constitution Ali Abdulemam hid to escape accordingly there will be no (par- that allows him to suspend parlia- a government crackdown and liament) session tomorrow,” Ali ment for one month. was smuggled out by fishermen. Al Rashed told reporters outside The break will take the oil- A military court tried and sen- parliament, following a meeting rich Gulf emirate, which has tenced him in absentia to 15 years with the justice minister. been embroiled in a bitter politi- in prison. It was not immediately known cal crisis for a year, to a decisive “I have not seen my daugh- if Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber ruling by the constitutional court ters since they were six-months- Mubarak Al Sabah, a senior on June 16 regarding the contro- old. It is hard to know that your member of the ruling family, has versy over the amendment of the daughters know you only from submitted the cabinet’s resigna- electoral law. a picture,” said Abdulemam, a tion to the emir. The court will rule whether the 35-year-old former engineer with Under Kuwaiti law, the cabinet amendment, which was ordered Gulf Air and author of the pro- can resign only after the prime by the emir last year, is in line democracy Bahrain Online blog. minister submits his and the min- with the constitution and could “I feel pain because I am not isters’ resignations to the ruler order parliament dissolved for the in my homeland. I did not choose who has the final say. second time in one year. this. I did not want this,” he told The development came after Opposition groups insisted the Reuters on the sidelines of the MPs filed requests to grill the amendment was illegal and pro- Oslo Freedom Forum rights con- oil and interior ministers over vided the government with the ference on Monday. alleged violations including a tools to impact the polls results. Kuwaiti members of parliament in the Abdullah Al Salem hall at the national assembly in Kuwait City yesterday. Sources close to Abdulemam $2.2bn penalty payment to US Islamist MP Khaled Al said he was smuggled to Saudi firm Dow Chemical. Shulaimi strongly lashed out at government wants to prevent (PIC) said it had reached a final The government boycott how- Arabia inside a car with a Earlier yesterday, cabinet min- the government boycott. the questioning of a suspicious settlement with Dow Chemical to ever cannot stop the grillings secret compartment. From isters boycotted a parliament ses- “Parliament has been very move to pay the penalty to Dow pay the US giant about $2.2bn. from being debated in parliament there, he travelled to Kuwait, sion apparently in protest over cooperative for five months... and Chemical which is a “real finan- The US firm said it has received but can delay them. where fishermen smuggled him the two grilling requests and today’s boycott is a proof that the cial and economic catastrophe”. the payment, a move that caused If debated, they might lead to into Iraq, from where he flew speaker Rashed called the ses- problem has always been with the Other MPs said the government a storm of criticism in the Opec no-confidence votes that may oust to London. sion off. government, even in previous par- was afraid to face parliament. member state where Dow has a the ministers in this major oil- Abdulemam, making his first Parliament sessions cannot liaments,” Shulaimi told reporters. Last week, state-owned multi-billion-dollar joint petro- producing emirate. public appearance since disap- be held in Kuwait without the MP Shulaimi also said the Petrochemical Industries Co. chemicals project. AFP pearing from view two years ago, said he had been granted asylum in Britain. Britain’s Home Office said it did not comment on indi- vidual asylum applications. A Bahraini government state- Saudi owner First Kurdish rebels reach Iraq under peace plan ment released to CNN on Monday said Abdulemam had not been tried in court “for exercising his paid pirates HEROR: Weary and caked in was muddy,” said one of the reflecting public sensitivities over troops as well as bombed cities. right to express his opinions”. mud, the first group of Kurdish newly arrived guerrillas called the PKK issue. The withdrawal is expected to “Rather he was tried for incit- $2.6m to free militants to leave Turkey under Sorkhwein, a hand grenade vis- “Our issue will be solved with take several months. ing and encouraging continuous a peace plan to end three decades ible inside her jacket. The PKK the release of our leader Apo The group, accusing Turkey of violent attacks against police of war descended a mountain into is deemed a terrorist group by (Ocalan) from prison. Then eve- violent repression of the Kurdish officers,” the statement said, ship crew Iraq yesterday to be met with the United States and European rything will be solved,” Sorkhwein minority, launched its insurgency adding that his website had been embraces from PKK comrades. Union as well as Turkey. said as the rebels warmed them- in 1984 with the goal of carving used “to incite hatred, including ALGIERS: The Saudi owner of Kurdistan Workers Party Ocalan was sentenced to hang selves around a campfire on which out a Kurdish state but subse- the spreading of false and inflam- an Algerian cargo ship whose (PKK) fighters began leaving their after he was captured by Turkish tea was brewing. Red, yellow and quently moderated its aim to matory rumours”. crew were held by Somali positions in southeast Turkey last special forces in 1999 in Kenya but green PKK flags and a banner autonomy for the mainly Kurdish Abdulemam denies the gov- pirates for 10 months admit- week following a March ceasefire this was commuted to a life term bearing Ocalan’s moustachioed region of the southeast. ernment’s charges, and says he is ted paying $2.6m to free them declared by jailed leader Abdullah when Turkey abandoned the death face hung in the background. In talks pursued by Ocalan and campaigning for democracy and in November 2011, an Algerian Ocalan to end a conflict that has penalty as part of reforms intended Sorkhwein was one of six Turkish officials since last autumn, civil rights. paper reported yetserday. killed 40,000 people, ravaged the to open the doors of the EU. female fighters in the arriving Kurds have pressed for constitu- The Bahrain government says The MV Blida, carrying 17 region’s economy and tarnished The peace plan is a gamble for group, illustrating the impor- tional reform recognising the eth- it has taken steps to address the Algerians, six Ukrainians, two Turkey’s human rights record. Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan tant role played by women in the nic minority’s cultural, political brutality of security forces early Filipinos, one Jordanian and one The 15 men and women dressed who could face a nationalist back- PKK insurgency and their wish to and linguistic rights with an end in the uprising by dismissing Indonesian, was captured by a in baggy green fatigues walked lash before elections next year. escape traditional gender-based to the stress on ‘Turkish identity’ those responsible and introduc- gang of heavily armed pirates on single file into a valley at Heror But opinion polls currently show roles in Kurdish society. that marks the current charter. ing cameras at police stations to January 1, 2011, on its way from near Metina mountain. They a high level of public support for a In some cases, a desire to Sorkhwein said the group did monitor abuses. Oman to Tanzania. carried Kalashnikov rifles and process that could bring a degree avenge the killing of relatives was not see any Turkish military on Abdulemam declined to dis- Two of hostages were released rucksacks with rolled-up sleep- of stability to a turbulent area the motivation for women joining. the way but 21-year-old Welat cuss how he got out of Bahrain for health reasons in October that ing mats on their backs. bordering Iraq, Iran and Syria. The PKK force is small but Afrin, a Syrian Kurd who has been to protect those who helped him. year, with the rest freed the fol- “For seven days we were on Television footage of the mili- dogged, with 3,000-4,000 fight- with the PKK for seven years, said His wife, eight-year-old son and lowing month when a bag full of the road and the conditions were tants’ arrival in Iraq did not ers in the mountains of northern Turkish reconnaissance drones three-year-old twin daughters cash was parachuted from a plane. very tough. There was snow, it immediately feature on major Iraq and some 2,000 in Turkey, had hovered overhead. also still live in Bahrain. “The pirates demanded a ran- didn’t stop raining and the road Turkish broadcasters, apparently where they have targeted Turkish REUTERS REUTERS som of $2.6m to free the sailors and the ship. The Algerian govern- ment refused to negotiate or pay a ransom,” owner Ghaith Rashad Feraoun told Arabic daily Ennahar. “I thought of the sailors. I had no interest in freeing the bulk carrier and cement on board, as it was 100 percent insured and the insurance companies were going to reimburse me,” he said. “I negotiated through a man called Abu Ali or Abu Ahmed. After agreeing with the pirates on the amount, I paid a one off payment in cash. I withdrew the money from Lebanon, because it’s the only country where you can get that amount without encountering obstacles,” Feraoun explained. “We took a small plane and threw the money onto the ship,” he said, adding that “Algeria didn’t pay a single dinar.” Algeria has a policy of not negotiating with hostage-takers and has asked the UN General Assembly to criminalise ransom payments to pirates. AFP Kurdistan Workers Party fighters stand in formation in northern Iraq yesterday.

Israel cabinet okays new budget draft

JERUSALEM: Israel’s cabinet yester- that failure to implement public spending cuts by surprise on Monday with a rare between- day approved the 2013-2014 budget draft could cause an economic collapse. Tax increases meetings interest rate cut to halt the that will slash spending and hike taxes starting in 2014 are expected to bring in some shekel’s rally and to support the weaken- this year and next to rein in a growing 13.4bn shekels. Lapid said the vote was “a first ing economy. budget deficit. stage in changing peoples’ lives in Israel”. Israel’s budget deficit was 4.2 percent of Cabinet ministers approved the 17-month The budget will appease the Bank of gross domestic product (GDP) last year - state spending package 21-1 with cuts of at Israel, which has called for a return to fiscal more than double its initial target -due to least 25bn shekels ($7bn) between August responsibility, but has angered middle-class overspending by the previous government 2013 and the end of 2014. Defence spending voters whose strained household finances and lower-than-expected tax revenues as was cut by 3bn, down from a proposed 4bn. were a major issue in January’s election. the economy slowed. Finance Minister Yair Lapid had warned The central bank took financial markets REUTERS WEDNESDAY 15 MAY 2013 08 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

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HE United States yesterday was dealing with two episodes which can prove deeply embarrassing for the Obama administration. First, was the Pakistan’s democracy versus Trevelation that the Justice Department obtained the telephone records of several Associated Press journalists last year. Second, a report showed an alleged undercover CIA functionary — photographs of his arrest flashed on Russian Islamic militancy state TV— being arrested dramatically in Moscow while trying to recruit a Russian agent. The Associated Press took strong exception to the BY JONATHAN POWER have the Pakistani militants become deal. government obtaining phone records of its staff across several not just the country’s nightmare but And once he was turned out of locations including the main number at the press gallery of NE small step forward for the army’s too despite all the sup- office- by the threat of impeachment the House of Representatives. The news has come as a shock Nawaz Sharif, the new elec- port the ISI has given them. When — the one man who could have made Otion winner, but one big step General Pervez Musharraf was presi- a deal stick in Pakistan was no longer and created a storm in Washington. Attorney Journal Eric forward for Pakistan. The Islamist dent, leading a military government, at the helm. Holder, who heads the Justice Department, said his deputy parties and their militant, some- he narrowly escaped assassination by The militants returned to trying had given the orders seeking the records. The episode is an times violent, followers have won so militants three times. to wag the dog with their audacious affront to the freedom of the press in a country that is seen as few votes they will play no significant Musharraf was never able to get attack in 2008 on an important hotel an ideal for the right to free speech. role in parliament. The overwhelm- on top of the paradox the military in Mumbai that took 164 lives. ing majority of Pakistan’s ethnically had over decades created for itself — The democratically elected govern- The news organisation says that the Department targeted disparate population has made it clear supporting the Islamists while being ment headed by President Asif Ali around 20 telephone lines assigned to AP and its journalists that they identify with secular politics. threatened by them. Zardari, the husband of the assas- in April and May of 2012. The number of journalists who used Hussein Haqqani writes in his He was in many ways a liberal sinated former premier Benazir the lines is uncertain but the news insightful new book on Pakistan that — pursuing an agenda of increased Bhutto, was so intimidated by the organisation says that some 100 “Most Pakistanis would probably be women’s rights, including some pro- extremists that it dithered over the journalists work in the offices whose quite content with a state that would tection from rape in a society that has extent it would cooperate with India The US Justice cater to their social needs, respect and traditionally blamed the woman not in bringing those behind the attack Department phone records were scrutinised. AP protect their rights to observe reli- the rapist, freeing the Press, pushing to book. has protested the breach of privacy gion and would for improved education, including the Islamists and their militants are not obtaining phone in a letter to Holder on Monday not invoke Islam curriculum of the madrasas, the reli- new. As a power they go right back to records of the with its Chief Executive Officer as its sole source gious schools, and promoting the Sufi the Bangladesh war of independence Gary Pruitt saying that what the of legitimacy.” school of Islam (more given to mysti- from Pakistan in 1971 when the mili- Associated Department sought was far beyond If Pakistan’s cism than violence). He also allowed tary supported Islamist groups to keep Most Pakistanis democracy were the courts more freedom. secular leaders out of power in East Press shows that which can be justified by any would probably be allowed to play a Yet these moves were cautiously Pakistan (now Bangladesh). its reckless investigation. central role — as made, and he constantly looked over In the late 1970s, following a mili- The US sees itself as a guardian quite content with seems to be hap- his shoulder at the militants who he tary coup, General Zia-ul-Haq took attitude towards of rights and an epitome of the pening at the allowed to be supported by the ISI the country in a more Islamist direc- freedom of expression. a state that would moment — hope- because of their activities in Kashmir tion, basing the country’s legal and the values it fully the Islamist and Afghanistan — in the latter not educational system on Islamic law. But the latest episode has the is supposed to cater to their social tail will no longer because he supported the Taliban but He wanted Pakistan to become the state treading on the freedom of be allowed to wag because he wanted to maintain some centre of a global Islamic resurgence. uphold. the Fourth Estate, and needs to be needs, respect and the dog. For years, degree of leverage with them. He This was the beginning of Islamist outrightly condemned. protect their rights particularly under always presumed the Americans and militants travelling to Pakistan to be Trying to play up the arrest of military rule, the Nato would be compelled to withdraw. at the centre of the action — which a US diplomat in Moscow yesterday, the Kremlin is trying its to observe religion Islamists, not Musharraf also wanted to use the then was aimed to repulse the Soviet least the militant, militants as a line of defence against occupation of Afghanistan. best to show Washington in a poor light at a time when the and would not invoke dogmatic part of the non-religious parties which con- The US, for its part, prior to 9/11 two former Cold War adversaries were trying to cooperate them, have been stantly manoeuvred to displace him. did little to dissuade Musharraf or his over the Boston bombings probe. Russian state television RT Islam as its sole allowed to set He recognised the religious parties predecessors from turning towards the showed the purported spy being pinned to the ground before source of legitimacy. too much of the as the main opposition in parliament Islamists. being arrested. The footage showed currency notes, wigs and agenda. In for- despite them having won only 11 per- They were particularly useful in other equipment purportedly recovered from the man. eign policy issues, cent of the vote in the election of 2002. the war against the Soviet Union and such as the argu- Nevertheless, he bravely took the many of the groups that US military For US President Barack Obama, who a day earlier, ment with India over the possession of Islamist parties head on when he aid was funnelled to via the ISI were addressed a key press conference with his British counterpart, Kashmir and support for the Taliban opened up negotiations with India on those that later backed the Taliban David Cameron, condemning the revenue service’s alleged in Afghanistan, they have long acted Kashmir. and Al Qaeda, and fought in Kashmir. indiscretion in targeting select groups, and clearing the air on outside the rule of law, but with the He dropped many of Pakistan’s pre- This is the Pakistan that Nawaz the Benghazi US embassy attack, the latest episodes are going support of the military’s intelligence vious positions and gave India most of Sharif inherits. He has a mandate service, the notorious ISI. what it wanted. from the secular majority. Can he stay to be an acute embarrassment. Washington should realise As in 18th century France when the In the end it was India that refused the hand of the Islamic militants? that the line between freedom and the right to uphold state revolution consumed its children, so to consummate what looked like a THE PENINSULA security is very thin and it needs to tread carefully. • The other side Quote of Gangs of Tripoli the day HE Libyans are experiencing Foreign ministries by militants is a case the government succumbed to their in power. Perhaps sections of Libyans a new culture of violence in point — it proves the fragility of the demands, irrespective of their legiti- too want to experiment with the same and thuggery. For decades, ruling dispensation. At the same time, macy, shows the effectiveness of brute module. While there is rationale in the Ttribal customs had held sway the rampant lawlessness is a worri- force in the country. This stunt contin- argument that Gaddafi’s henchmen, This was ... a very, in the North African country, but the some development, and doesn’t bode ued for a fortnight, despite the fact that who plundered wealth and misused very serious leak. deteroirating security situation in the well for the future of the country. parliament had passed a law last week their offices, should be prosecuted for post-Gaddafi era is testing the patience The gunmen, who laid siege to barring Gaddafi-era officials from politi- their wrongdoings, there is no point in I have been a of ordinary people. government offices for more than two cal office. Now what the militant group bringing down the edifice of day-to-day A holistic analysis reveals that mili- weeks, were demanding the expulsion wanted was a purge of government governance by suspecting officials for prosecutor since tant groups have mushroomed in ter- of Gaddafi-era officials. Their modus institutions and targetted sacking of their political likings. The government in ritory spanning from Benghazi to Tripoli operandi of parking pick-up trucks civil servants. Such a development is Tripoli should look at the wider picture 1976 and I have and have weakened the writ of the loaded with anti-aircraft guns outside reminiscent to what happened in Iraq of governance and restore its writ by to say that this state. The new government in Libya the secretariat offices is testimony to after the overthrow of Saddam Hussein beefing up security measures. Rather has not been able to flush out the mili- the growing violence in the country. regime. The US-backed administration than wasting time on tracing and sack- is within the top tants and broker a new social contract And surprisingly enough, even the full shunted out all of Baath party loyalists ing Gaddafi men, it would be better two or three most between the feuding sections of soci- might of the state-machinery couldn’t from the bureaucracy and security advised to outlaw the militants. Eric Holder ety. The recent takeover of Justice and dare to dislodge them. The fact that establishments, thus creating a void Khaleej Times serious leaks... US Attorney General WEDNESDAY 15 MAY 2013 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 09 Nawaz Sharif must mend Rows give Obama new headaches Pakistan’s three fault lines BY FRED BARBASH news that broke on Monday that the Justice Department secretly resident Barack Obama obtained two months of telephone The prime minister- learned on Monday what records of reporters and editors can happen to presidents for the Associated Press. elect will need all his Pcaught up in allegations The potential risk is high for of scandal: They have to address Obama and the Democrats. them instead of anything else. The Democratic-controlled experience to deal It happened when the president Senate is considering a compre- had to interrupt his news confer- hensive bipartisan immigration bill with the military, ties ence with Prime Minister David that already faces a rough road in Cameron of Britain to answer the Republican-controlled House, questions about the widening where suspicion of the Obama with India and religious investigation into the Benghazi administration runs highest. attacks in Libya and the Internal “The political fallout will be extremism. Revenue Service’s targeting of very damaging for the adminis- Tea Party and other conserva- tration,” said Bonjean. BY CYRIL ALMEIDA tive groups. “This will be another issue that By the end of the day he was takes the administration way off awaz Sharif is back. And this facing a third major problem message,” he said. “There’s no way time, it could be the culmina- when the Associated Press said they can punch through with a tion of a political journey that the Department of Justice had positive agenda while investiga- has seen him established as per- secretly seized some of its report- tions of the IRS are going on.” haps the country’s only genuine ers’ phone records last year. The IRS scandal could easily statesmanN in a couple of generations. It is all leading to compari- spill over into the 2014 mid-term To critics, he is an unreformed rightwinger, sons with the second term of election year. a conservative politician who allows his party President Bill Clinton, in which A week ago, Obama was con- to pander to the extremist Islamist fringe, an his agenda was severely disrupted fronting a single investigative arrogant bully who recklessly threatens con- by the Monica Lewinsky scandal. proceeding on Capitol Hill on frontation with other institutions, particularly Obama, unlike Clinton, has not the subject of the deadly attacks the powerful army. been accused of personal miscon- on the US mission in Benghazi, But Sharif is no longer the callow 30-year- duct. But his ability to steer the Libya, last September. old who got his start in politics as a protege Washington “conversation” could It was attracting relatively lit- of the dictator General Zia. Nor is he the be compromised. tle public attention outside con- wild confrontationist whose first two terms “I think the IRS scandal comes servative circles, and he could as prime minister came to premature ends at a very inopportune time for the dismiss as partisan because only because of his inability to pick his battles or president and the Democratic Republicans were pushing it. learn to co-exist with other power centres. agenda,” said Sarah Binder, a On Monday he confronted Instead, a stint in jail under Musharraf, George Washington University the prospect of multiple probes, then exile and five years as the leader of the scholar of Congress. with those into the IRS backed opposition to the Asif Ali Zardari-led PPP “The challenge for Obama by Obama’s Democratic allies in government appear to have mellowed Sharif. and the Democrats in the com- Congress as Democrats moved He is now a leader who understands that dem- Pakistan’s incoming prime minister Nawaz Sharif. ing weeks and months will be quickly to show they were as ocratic continuity is indispensable. And he has to keep the public’s attention concerned as Republicans about set himself to mending two of the original fault focused on Obama’s policy goals alleged IRS abuses. lines in Pakistan: The civil-military divide and concession given that Sharif’s party feared as an army chief unlikely to challenge him. when Republicans and the media AP is assessing options for legal relations with India. that a late PTI surge threatened to eat into On India, Sharif has already shown his will be focused on scandal.” action in response to the govern- Taken together, strengthening the demo- its share of the vote. intentions, giving forthright interviews to The problems for Obama and ment’s actions, said David Schulz, cratic project, nudging the civil-military This gives hope that Sharif will be a good Indian journalists in the last days of the Democrats may be worsened as an attorney representing AP. imbalance in the right direction and seeking custodian of the democratic project for the campaign in which he talked of his desire to well by the nature of the IRS White House spokesman Jay to reset ties with India would amount to a next five years. But can he tame the army, restart the peace process he initiated in the behaviour: targeting groups for Carney said the White House fundamental reorientation of the Pakistani particularly when it comes to wresting away late 1990s. extra scrutiny based on their was not involved in the decision state — a reorientation last engineered by control of national security and foreign Sharif has now invited the Indian Prime political leanings reinforces the to seize AP records. General Zia for very different purposes and policy? Minister, Manmohan Singh, to visit Pakistan, notion of big government pursu- The administration’s chief with disastrous results. Can Sharif do it? He In this, Sharif may get some unexpected perhaps even as a guest at his swearing-in ing citizens exercising constitu- opponent in Congress of late has the necessary attributes: He is Punjabi, help from the army itself, which is almost cer- ceremony early next month. tional rights. representative Darrell Issa of is genuinely popular and appears to have the tainly still wary of him but appears to have But what forthrightness and boldness can It could feed into gun rights California threatened to add the courage of his convictions. accepted a new role as first among equals help secure, old tricks can fatally sabotage. activists’ worries about slippery AP issue to the list of things he During the election campaign, Sharif dem- rather than the unquestioned and predomi- Sharif dramatically hosted the first ever visit slopes that lead to gun confis- is already probing, which include onstrated an equanimity that was beyond him nant power within Pakistan. Sharif’s first test by an Indian prime minister, in 1999 — but cation or gun-owner registries, Benghazi and the IRS scandal. in the 90s, the last time he ruled Pakistan. could be the selection of General Kayani’s the Pakistan army-initiated Kargil war a few said a Republican Senate aide, or Even without charges of per- Furiously attacked from all sides by well- successor. months later scuppered that initiative. And fears of government “takeovers” sonal misconduct, “staying coher- funded adversaries — the PPP, Imran Khan Ostensibly appointed by the prime min- like Sharif now, Zardari tried to reach out to of healthcare. ent” in pursuit of an agenda is and the PTI, and the dregs of Musharraf’s old ister, in practice the army chief is usually India soon after coming to power in 2008 – but Ron Bonjean, a Republican aide much more challenging for a pres- party, the PML-Q — Sharif refused to descend selected from a shortlist that the outgoing then came the Mumbai attacks, blamed on the on Capitol Hill and consultant, ident than it was in the Clinton into the mud pit, choosing instead to empha- chief provides. army-friendly Lashkar-e-Taiba. said though the IRS is an inde- years, said one of his former press sise national economic challenges and the need In the past, maverick civilian prime min- And there is another fault line that since pendent agency, the White House secretaries, Mike McCurry. for strong government. isters, including Sharif, have installed their Sharif was last prime minister has been can expect to be blamed by the “The environment for commu- When Khan’s tumble brought his cam- own favourites as army chief in an attempt to threatening to suck both the Pakistani state public for any wrongdoing by it. nications is so much more compli- paign to a premature end in the crucial last neutralise the army’s political role — a move and society into oblivion: Militancy and violent “The public sees the IRS as cated now because you have this hours of an intense campaign, Sharif sus- that has backfired, as Sharif himself learned extremism. On that present-day challenge, part of the federal government, voracious social media environ- pended his own campaigning for 24 hours when he was ousted by Musharraf in 1999; Sharif has said worryingly little. which the White House controls.” ment in which everything is mag- in a gesture of goodwill — a significant Musharraf having been handpicked by Sharif THE GUARDIAN The same might be said of the nified,” he said. REUTERS Syria: The first conflict of post-superpower era

Syria. Pro- and anti-Assad fight- The US does not know what it ers cross the porous border every day. With the prospect of wants. If it did, it seems fearful to a sectarian conflagration inside Lebanon growing all the time, a report by the International Crisis use the means at its disposal to Group describes the situation as at breaking point. engineer it. The absence of leadership or strategy is palpable. On Assad’s BY JOHN KAMPFNER the only organised element. Some use of chemical weapons, which diplomats say that the Assad Obama said would mark a red s Turkey threatens regime deliberately stokes these line, it appears that the US bluff reprisals for bomb- fears, but admit that they add to may have been called. In another ings that have left up a sense that Syria is a lose-lose sign of the west’s weakness, both Ato 50 dead, Syria’s war for everyone involved. David Cameron and the US sec- is already sucking in the wider In his re-election inaugural retary of state, John Kerry, have Middle East. But the one country address in January, President gone cap in hand to Assad’s chief on which all sides would previ- Obama insisted that a decade supporter, Vladimir Putin — a ously rely for leadership is para- of war was coming to an end. few months ago the Americans lysed with indecision. Afghanistan and, particularly, and British were dismissive of the The most striking aspect of the Iraq have set back the cause of Russian position. In their meet- Syrian imbroglio, as I have dis- humanitarian intervention for ing in Washington on Monday, covered on a visit to neighbouring at least a generation. Libya was Cameron said he and Obama — Lebanon, is that this may be the seen as a modest operation, with US President Barack Obama (left) and Britain’s Prime Minister David Cameron after the conclusion of their joint “whatever our differences” — had first conflict of the post-super- modest success, but even that has news conference in the East Room at the White House in Washington. the same aim as Putin: “a stable, power era. The US does not know been undermined by the murder inclusive and peaceful Syria free what it wants. And even if it did, it in Benghazi by jihadists of the US prompted Israel to step into the comfortable with the Assad to the west, and keep the Iranians from the scourge of extremists”. seems fearful to use the means at ambassador to Libya, which has breach. Its massive air strikes on dynasty, which has kept a lid and Hezbollah at arm’s length. Do That statement meant everything its disposal to engineer it. been ruthlessly and opportunisti- targets in and around Damascus on the occupied Golan Heights all this by discreetly supporting and nothing. A year ago, when I was last cally taken up by the American on 5 May were designed to send a — just as they ppreciated Hosni those rebel elements you’re not Twenty-five years of single- in Beirut, people said Syria’s right. message not just to Assad but also Mubarak’s ability to keep too squeamish about. power dominance came crashing President Bashar Al Assad had, For Obama, the option of cut- to Hezbollah and, most of all, Iran. Egyptians in check. Suffice to say such an intricate down with Iraq. Obama has been perhaps, three months to hang ting his losses and keeping his The Israelis are clear about what Both Israelis and Americans non-plan as this has virtually no wise and politically brave to shed on; now he looks much more distance from Syria has proved they don’t want — the shipment would do anything to lessen chance. In the meantime, more the hubris and self-delusion that entrenched. Militarily, the regime attractive. The problem is that his of heavy weaponry to Hezbollah Iran’s influence over Syria. Their than 70,000 have died, and the had taken hold. Libya was a brief has consolidated its precarious government will not admit this to in southern Lebanon. game plan — if one exists — might war is spilling over Syria’s bor- interlude, but the days of heavy- hold on Damascus and other key be strategy, providing false hope Yet do the Israelis want Assad approximate to: get rid of Assad, ders, as the weekend’s attacks handed military intervention are cities. Rebel forces are increas- to the self-proclaimed moderate to stay or go? Nobody in Beirut or put someone in place who would on the Turkish town of Reyhanli over. It is Syria’s tragedy, and will ingly desperate and disparate — opposition and its Sunni support- elsewhere in the region appears to maintain order, allow moderates attest. Lebanon, a fragile state soon be others’, that nothing has and fears are growing that the Al ers in Turkey, and the region. know the answer. in the opposition a stake in gov- of four million, is attempting to been put in its place. Qaeda inspired Al Nusra Front is America’s reluctance has Israel has been relatively ernment, be a little more friendly absorb a million refugees from THE GUARDIAN WEDNESDAY 15 MAY 2013 10 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MIDDLE EAST Jordan to Netanyahu bids host ‘Friends to block arms of Syria’ next week AMMAN: Jordan’s for- supply to Syria eign ministry said yesterday Amman will host a meeting of the so-called “Friends of Syria” group next week to discuss lat- Rebels unite to retake town est developments in Syria’s civil war. MOSCOW: Israeli Prime and security, it’s important both “The foreign ministers of Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for you and us.” Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the United met Russian President Vladimir The West and Israel are par- Arab Emirates, Egypt, the United Putin yesterday on an appar- ticularly concerned about Russia’s States, Britain, France, Turkey, ent mission to warn Moscow refusal to rule out deliveries to Germany and Italy will hold a against sending arms to Syria Syria of advanced S-300 mis- meeting in Amman in mid-next as alarm grows over the spiral- sile batteries under an existing week,” ministry spokeswoman ling death toll in the conflict. contract amid growing concerns Sabah Rafei said. In their concluding remarks over a war that activists say has “This meeting will follow up on following talks at the Russian claimed at least 80,000 lives. previous meetings in Istanbul and strongman’s Black Sea residence The issues on Tuesday’s agenda Abu Dhabi to discuss the unfor- in Sochi, the two leaders were had some parallels to a trip tunate events in Syria and coor- intent on giving little away about Netanyahu made to Moscow in dinate positions in line with the their closed-door meeting. September 2009 for Kremlin talks recent US-Russian agreement to Israel wants Russia to halt sup- deemed so sensitive that the visit Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a news conference at revive the political path to tackle plies of formidable S-300 missiles was kept secret at the time. the Bocharov Ruchei residence in Sochi yesterday. the crisis.” which would severely complicate According to Israeli media, Washington and Moscow have any future air attacks against Netanyahu is believed on that But in a rare move, brigades and Islamist units joined forces over a heavy setback last month when proposed a peace conference the regime of Syrian President trip to have raised fears about a operating in Ghouta, a largely the weekend and pledged to share their feuding and failure to rein- between the Syrian regime and Bashar Al Assad. Russian plan to deliver S-300s to agricultural region on the east- weapons and fighters. They took as force local fighters allowed gov- the opposition in the coming Netanyahu did not mention Iran that Moscow decided in the ern outskirts of Damascus, have their flag a white banner with the ernment forces to advance. weeks to find a political solution the sensitive weapons issue in end not to fulfil. united under one command to Muslim declaration of faith: “There “How could they allow the loss to the country’s civil war. public but Putin warned against Meanwhile, Syrian rebels wrest back the town of Otaiba, is no god but God; Mohammad is of their supply line? How could But France warned yesterday any destabilising moves in the including the Al Qaeda-linked 3km northeast of Damascus God’s prophet”. they all just sit there and watch that the proposed foreign-backed Middle East, days after Israeli Nusra Front have counter- international airport. “We are fighting for the same the regime throttling their lungs?” peace conference would be “very forces launched air strikes against attacked east of Damascus to “This is a huge target no brigade goal and that is to topple Assad — said a rebel from Otaiba. “Now difficult” to organise. regime targets in Syria. retake a town that served as a can deliver on its own, even Al so why shouldn’t we unite?” said they are paying the price - some A diplomatic source said a “In this crucial period it is conduit for arms from Jordan into Nusra cannot do it alone, so we all a commander from an Islamist shipments that were delivered meeting of top officials from the especially important to avoid the capital before it was seized by agreed to unite to retake it,” said brigade involved in the battle. earlier are stuck and need a path United States, France and Britain any moves that can shake the government forces last month, a commander whose brigade is one Rebels said they wanted to take so they have to open the route.” will take place tomorrow, with situation,” Putin said in televised rebel sources said. of the 23 taking part in the battle. advantage of the unusual unity In addition to Al Nusra Front, Russia and China joining the talks remarks. The rebels’ struggle to end four “With God’s will this will be a among brigades in the latest cam- Islamic groups like the powerful a day later. It is still unknown Netanyahu stressed meanwhile decades of Assad family rule has decisive battle in rural Damascus paign — named Al Furqaan after Liwaa Al Islam, Liwaa Martyrs of where these talks will be held. it was his country’s task to defend been complicated in part by inter- that will stop the advance of the a chapter in the Holy Quran — to Douma and Ossoud Al Allah are At a meeting late on Monday in its citizens. nal divisions along ideological and regime army and reopen the sup- press on to Damascus airport. also in the union under the com- Abu Dhabi, the foreign ministers The Israeli prime minister political lines, as well as a short- ply route.” The bloc of brigades was agreed mand of Abu Salah Taha, head of of Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi added: “Together we are trying to age of heavy weaponry that could Brigades from the Western- only for the current battle, the the Martyrs of Douma. Arabia and the UAE, as well as find ways to strengthen stability decisively turn the tide of conflict. backed rebel General Command rebels said, but it was driven by AGENCIES that of Turkey — all supporters of the Syrian opposition — insisted that President Bashar Al Assad should have no role in the future of Syria. In a statement after talks Iran defends post as chair of UN disarmament conference among the pro-opposition “Friends of Syria” meeting group in Istanbul last month, US UNITED NATIONS: Iran yes- Geneva-based body is largely procedure of this organ,” he said. refusing to halt a nuclear enrich- seeking to overthrow him in the Secretary of State John Kerry said terday defended its election as ceremonial, it is a high-profile Erin Pelton, spokeswoman for ment program that Tehran says country’s two-year civil war. Washington will double its assist- the rotating chair of the world’s position. the US mission to the UN, said is peaceful but Western nations Pelton said the US ambas- ance to the Syrian opposition to sole multilateral disarmament “The Islamic Republic of Iran is on Monday that the selection of and their allies suspect is aimed sador to the Conference on $250m and expand its non-lethal forum after the United States a founding member of the United Iran was “unfortunate and highly at giving it the capability to pro- Disarmament, Laura Kennedy, military supplies to rebel fighters. announced that its ambassa- Nations,” said Alireza Miryousefi, inappropriate.” She said countries duce atomic weapons. would boycott any meeting Yesterday during a visit to dor to the UN Conference on spokesman for Iran’s UN mission. under UN sanctions for arms pro- The US and Europe have chaired by Iran. Washington Stockholm Kerry said that Syria’s Disarmament would boycott “Its election to the presidency of liferation or human rights abuses also accused Iran of violating a broke off diplomatic ties with opposition will receive additional any meeting led by Tehran. the Conference on Disarmament, should be barred from such for- UN embargo on Iranian arms Iran in 1980 after Iranian stu- assistance if Assad refuses to The UN Conference on as the most important disarma- mal or ceremonial UN posts. exports in order to supply weap- dents took US diplomats hostage attend the peace conference pro- Disarmament has been dead- ment negotiating body of the UN, Iran is under sanctions by the ons to Syrian President Bashar Al in the aftermath of the Islamic posed by the United States and locked for about 15 years. is its right in accordance with the UN, the US, the European Union Assad. They say Tehran is support revolution. Russia. While the chairmanship of the established practice and rules of and other international bodies for Assad’s efforts to defeat rebels REUTERS AFP Gunmen kill 12 at Baghdad Egypt to try Coptic teacher CAIRO: A Coptic Christian teacher in an “It is not a crime to speak one’s mind on a alcohol shops Egyptian primary school will stand trial after religion, whether it is their own or that of some- colleagues and the parents of students accused one else,” said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, Amnesty’s BAGHDAD: Gunmen armed her of insulting Islam and evangelising, a judi- Middle East and North Africa deputy director. with silenced weapons shot dead cial source said yesterday. “Any laws barring such speech violate free- 12 people at alcohol shops in the The trial of Dimyana Ubeid Abdel Nour will dom of expression, and are in breach of Egypt’s Iraqi capital yesterday, security begin on May 21, the judicial source said. She international obligations under the International and medical officials said. has been freed on bail of 20,000 Egyptian pounds Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,” she said. The gunmen, who were travel- ($2,900) ahead of the hearing. Copts are estimated to comprise up to 10 percent ling in four vehicles, restrained fed- According to London-based rights watchdog of Egypt’s population of 83 million. They complain eral policemen at a checkpoint in Amnesty International, the complaints arose of discrimination and have been targets of sec- the Zayouna area of west Baghdad, after some students alleged the teacher in the tarian attacks. Egypt’s laws forbid insults against an interior ministry official said. southern city of Luxor said she “loved Father recognised religions. A court sentenced a Christian They then shot dead 12 peo- Shenuda”, the late Coptic Pope Shenuda III. last December to three years in prison for posting ple in multiple adjoining alcohol She was also alleged to have “touched her online segments of an anti-Muslim movie. shops nearby, the ministry official knee or her stomach when she spoke about the A Cairo court is trying a firebrand Islamist said. A medical official confirmed Prophet Mohammed in class,” Amnesty said in preacher on charges of insulting religion after the toll. a statement that demanded her release. he tore up a copy of the Bible during a protest. With alcohol forbidden by A judicial source said a complaint signed by In Egypt, citizens can accuse others of insult- Islam, Baghdad liquor stores are some of her colleagues and parents of her stu- ing religion or other offences before prosecutors an attractive target for funda- dents accused her of insulting Islam and pros- or courts, which occasionally take up the cases. mentalist groups, made more so elytising to fourth grade students. AFP because they are often staffed by religious minorities. Saudi confirms Anti-mine exercise four new cases of Sars-like virus

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has confirmed four new cases of the Sars-like novel coronavirus in its Eastern Province, state media reported late yesterday, citing the health ministry. The health ministry said one of the four new cases had been treated and the patient had been released from hospital, the Saudi Press Agency reported. On Sunday, Saudi Arabia said it had had a total of 24 confirmed cases since the disease was iden- tified last year, of whom 15 had died. In its latest outbreak in its Eastern Province, it said it had had 15 confirmed cases, of whom US Navy personnel check a Blackhawk helicopter on the deck of USS Ponce, an Afloat Forward Staging nine had died. Base, in the Arabian Sea yesterday, on the second day of the biggest mine countermeasures exercise. AGENCIES WEDNESDAY 15 MAY 2013 INTERNATIONAL www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 11

Jacob Zuma Russia catches US spy in Moscow to visit Russia Security service alleges diplomat was out to recruit Russian agent for spying tomorrow PRETORIA: President Jacob MOSCOW: Russia yesterday provided by the FSB, Fogle is seen Russia’s interests. Zuma will visit Russia later this said it had detained an alleged sitting down as a man, presum- The photos published by RT week for talks with counterpart American CIA agent working ably a Russian security officer, also showed a document enti- Vladimir Putin, South African undercover at the US Embassy tells the suspect about his alleged tled “printed instructions for the officials said yesterday, the lat- who was discovered with a large crime. Russian citizen being recruited”. est sign of rapidly deepening stash of money trying to recruit He is then accused of offer- Parts of the recruiting docu- ties between the two countries. a Russian agent. ing $100,000 for espionage to a ment allegedly used by Fogle read: Zuma will visit Putin’s favoured Russia’s Federal Security security service employee who “Dear Friend. This is an advance Black Sea resort town of Sochi Service (FSB, ex-KGB) identified is involved in counterinsur- from somebody who is impressed from tomorrow, the second meet- the man as Ryan C Fogle — third gency work in the Russian North with your professionalism, and ing between the two leaders in secretary of the political sec- Caucasus. who would value highly your less than three months. tion of Washington’s Embassy in “We did not believe this at first, future cooperation with us”. Russia has not been a major Moscow — and said he had been because as you know the FSB has As well as $100,000 outright economic player in Africa in handed back to the embassy after been actively helping the investi- “we offer up to $1m per year for recent years, but ties with South his detention. gation of the Boston blasts,” the long-term cooperation, with a Africa — the continent’s leading The foreign ministry said it officer says as Fogle and three promise for an additional bonus economy — have been warming. was summoning US ambassa- men silently listen with arms for information that will help us”. Trade between the two coun- dor Michael McFaul today for crossed. Analysts said the fact that the tries increased more than 66 per- an explanation and slammed The incident comes amid a new case received such media atten- cent in 2012. Washington for what it described downturn in Russian-US rela- tion means that senior Russian “Presidents Zuma and Putin as “provocative acts in the spirit tions sparked by the Syrian crisis leaders had decided to use the will review bilateral relations of the Cold War”. and concern in Washington over arrest to make a political point and exchange views on critical In a complete contrast to the what it sees as President Vladimir to Washington. regional and global issues,” South joint pledges for intelligence Putin’s crackdown on all dissent. Some such cases are often han- African deputy foreign minister cooperation after the Boston The last major spy row between dled quietly and tit-for-tat expul- Ebrahim Ebrahim announcing bombings, it declared Fogle to be the two former Cold War rivals sions are sometimes only made the visit. Putin travelled to South persona non grata and said he involved the glamourous Anna public once completed. Africa for a state visit in March, a must return to the United States Ryan Christopher Fogle, after being arrested at the FSB office in Moscow, Chapman and 10 other Russian Independent analyst trip that coincided with a summit “as soon as possible”. Russia, late on Monday. spies arrested in the United Alexander Golts added that the of BRICS leaders. After a lengthy Photographs published by States in 2010. million dollars the United States bilateral meeting, the pair signed state English language tel- letters were displayed. instructions for recruiting a The spy scandal — which was allegedly willing to pay the eight agreements covering edu- evision RT showed a baseball- The FSB footage also displayed Russian citizen, a large sum of ended with their swap for four Russian security service worker cation, energy, defence, fisheries, capped Fogle being held to the supposed espionage equipment money and means for changing a Russians convicted of spying for seemed far too large for a regu- mineral resources, transport and ground face down and having his including wigs, a torch, compass person’s appearance”. the West — was a huge embar- lar worker. science and technology. hands put behind his back for and even a mundane atlas of The statement added that rassment for Russia’s foreign “These numbers raise red The pair also lauded a tie up the arrest. Moscow as well as a somewhat “recently, the US intelligence intelligence at the time. The FSB flags,” Golts said in a telephone between South Africa’s state- He was then shown being ques- old-fashioned mobile phone. service has made repeated and Russia’s tightly-controlled interview. “For that amount, they backed weapons firm Denel and tioned at the Federal Security The FSB said in a statement attempts to recruit the staff of state media appeared intent yes- could have expected to at least get Russian Helicopters to provide Service while documents such carried by Russian news agencies Russian law enforcement agencies terday on showing to the public the deputy head of Russia’s for- the first servicing and repair as his passport and a stack of that Fogle was carrying “special and special services”. that the man it had caught was a eign intelligence.” facility for the Russian group 500 euro notes along with some technical equipment, written In a video that RT said was real agent who posed a danger to AFP in Africa. AFP

Pilotless combat aircraft Five inmates in daring escape AP phone records from Swiss jail were ordered by GENEVA: Five prisoners made a dramatic escape from a Swiss jail yesterday, using weapons deputy: Holder passed to them from accom- plices on the outside to threaten guards and other inmates before WASHINGTON: US Attorney who are involved in this inves- scaling the prison wall and dis- General Eric Holder said yester- tigation ... followed all of the appearing, police said. day that he had recused himself appropriate Justice Department “There is an active manhunt from the Justice Department’s regulations and did things accord- for them, and they are listed as controversial decision to ing to DOJ rules,” Holder said, wanted both at a national and secretly seize telephone records speaking at an unrelated press an international level,” police of the Associated Press. conference on Medicare fraud. in the canton of Vaud said in a Instead, the decision to seek The AP has said it was statement. phone records of one of the informed last Friday that the The five men, one Frenchman, world’s largest news-gathering Justice Department had gathered an Albanian, a Bosnian, a Kosovar, organisations was made by the records for more than 20 phone as well as Serbian member of the deputy attorney general, Holder lines assigned to the news agency “Pink Panther” gang of interna- said. Jim Cole currently holds that and its reporters. tional jewel thieves, took just five position. The records covered April minutes to get away, the investi- The seizure, denounced by crit- and May of last year, and were gators said. ics as a gross intrusion into free- obtained earlier this year, the AP At around 10.20am (0820 GMT) An X-47B pilotless drone combat aircraft is launched for the first time off an aircraft carrier, the USS George dom of the press, has created an said. It described the seizures as they were in the walled in court- uproar in Washington and led to a “massive and unprecedented H W Bush, in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Virginia, yesterday. yard at the Bois-Mermet prison questions over how the Obama intrusion” into news-gathering on the outskirts of Lausanne with administration is balancing the operations. some 30 other inmates when three need for national security with “There can be no possible jus- masked accomplices on the out- privacy rights. tification for such an overbroad side climbed a ladder and threw a Holder said he recused himself collection of the telephone com- bag filled with weapons and other from the matter to avoid a poten- munications of The Associated items into the yard. Cameron publishes bill on EU vote tial conflict of interest because Press and its reporters,” AP Chief Grabbing the gun from the he was interviewed by the FBI in Executive Gary Pruitt said in a bag, the five men threatened the LONDON: British Prime law Cameron’s commitment to Commons,” he told BBC radio. connection with the investigation letter sent to Holder on Monday. other detainees and the guards Minister David Cameron bowed the referendum plan, which is “When all the dust settles on into the unauthorised disclosure An AP story on the records sei- and sprayed them with some kind to pressure from his restive contingent on the party winning the speculation about this, one of classified information. zure said the government would of irritant to keep them away as Conservative party yesterday re-election in 2015. thing will be very clear... the The seizure of AP telephone not say why it sought them. But it they used pliers from the bag to and published a bill to hold a But it is a highly unusual move Conservative Party is very much records appears connected to a noted that US officials have pre- cut a hole in the fence blocking referendum on membership of because it has been published by behind and committed to this criminal probe into information viously said the US Attorney’s their access to the prison wall, the European Union. the party, not the government, policy.” contained in a May 7, 2012, AP Office in the District of Columbia which they then climbed using a The move was designed to head and will rely on an individual Tory Cameron has been under story about a CIA operation in was conducting the criminal ladder provided by their accom- off growing turmoil in the party MP guiding it through parliament intense pressure over Europe Yemen that stopped an Al Qaeda investigation into the May 2012 plices, police said. AFP the day before many Conservative as a private members’ bill. in recent months, fuelled by plot to detonate a bomb on an AP story. MPs were expected to vote for a Foreign Secretary William the growth of the upstart UK airplane headed for the United White House spokesman Jay parliamentary motion condemn- Hague acknowledged the bill had Independence Party (UKIP) States. Holder, speaking at a Carney said during a press brief- Pentagon plans ing the coalition government’s almost no chance of becoming law, which is poaching Tory voters press conference yesterday, said ing yesterday that President European policy. but said there could be no gov- with its demands to pull Britain the unauthorised information put Barack Obama sought to balance unpaid leave It also came just hours after US ernment legislation because of out of the EU. the American people at risk and support for a free press with the President Barack Obama publicly opposition from the Tories’ junior The prime minister wants to required “very aggressive action.” need to investigate leaks of clas- WASHINGTON: The backed Cameron’s plan to renego- coalition partners, the pro-Euro- try to reform the 27-nation bloc He said he did not have specific sified information. Pentagon plans to place most tiate Britain’s terms of member- pean Liberal Democrats. before holding an in-out referen- knowledge about the formulation “The president believes that of its nearly 800,000 civilian ship with Brussels and put them “But it means there can be a dum, in which he plans to vote of the subpoena for AP telephone the press as a rule needs to have employees on unpaid leave for to an in-out referendum by the debate in the House of Commons to stay in, and has accused those records, but he said he does not an unfettered ability to pursue 11 days through September due end of 2017. The Conservatives’ on our policy, it means there urging an exit now of “throwing believe there was any wrongdoing. investigative journalism,” Carney to automatic budget cuts, a US draft bill would enshrine into can be a vote in the House of in the towel”. AFP “I’m confident that the people told a news briefing. REUTERS defence official said yesterday. The move reflected efforts to avoid or limit the length of fur- loughs as the Pentagon had previ- ously warned it would impose up Nigeria emergency to 22 days of unpaid leave, then revised the forecast to 14 days. France passes landmark labour reform law in three states Certain categories of employees will be exempt from the furloughs PARIS: The French parlia- the law makes it easier for firms but many companies say the “This is one of those moments ABUJA, NIGERIA: Nigerian and the exceptions will vary from ment passed a landmark reform to make layoffs or reduce pay measures will help them better in which a great step forward has President Goodluck Jonathan service to service, said the defence of the country’s labour code and working hours in economic manage costs. been made,” said Labour Minister yesterday imposed a “state of official, who spoke on condition of yesterday, part of President downturns but raises the cost of The reform passed through the Michel Sapin. emergency” in three states anonymity. Francois Hollande’s efforts to employing staff on widely-used Upper House with 168 votes for Hollande is struggling to fulfill menaced by Islamist group The exemptions could apply to convince European partners very short-term contracts. and 3 against. Left-wing lawmak- his promise to reverse the rise Boko Haram, saying the level numerous intelligence officers as he is determined to revamp Few expect an instant improve- ers had sought to stall the legisla- in unemployment, now at 10.6 of violence called for “extraor- well as shipyard workers, as sen- the euro zone’s second largest ment in the competitiveness of tion and backed street protests percent, by the end of the year. dinary measures”. “I hereby ior officers had hoped to find sav- economy. French exporters who have seen by trade unions opposed to the March jobless claims hit an all- declare a state of emergency ings elsewhere to avoid disrupting Negotiated with employers and sales undercut by cheaper foreign accord, including the hardline time record 3.225 million. in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa ship-building work. AFP three trade unions in January, rivals over the past two decades, CGT. REUTERS states,” Jonathan said. AFP WEDNESDAY 15 MAY 2013 12 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com ASIA / PHILIPPINES Aquino, allies may win big in mid-term polls Allies likely to win nine Senate seats

MANILA: Philippine President to end a decades-long insurgency Benigno Aquino yesterday in the south of the country that secured big wins in mid-term has claimed an estimated 150,000 elections seen as vital to his lives and severely curbed eco- ambitious reform agenda, but nomic growth. He will need par- the success of famous, graft- liamentary endorsement of the tainted rivals raised alarm. peace deal. Aquino’s ruling Liberal Party Aquino also wants to pass leg- and its allies were set to gain con- islation to expand health care and trol of both houses of Congress, other social services to the poor, according to the official election while passing a long-delayed law tally with more than 75 percent forcing mining firms to pay higher of Monday’s votes counted. taxes was also a top priority. Most crucial was control of Aquino is restricted by the con- the Senate, with Aquino allies on stitution to one term of six years. track to win nine of 12 seats con- The strengthened position for Bangladeshi family members hold up portraits of missing relatives as they march demanding the wages of missing workers and death sentence for tested in the mid-term elections Aquino following Monday’s elec- building owner, at the nine-storey building collapse site in Savar, on the outskirts of Dhaka, yesterday. to give the president a comfort- tions is also expected to help him able majority that would allow promote a potential successor to him to much more easily pass continue with his reforms. legislation. But wins for a host of con- “Since we will have a greater troversial candidates under- Global brands commit to Bangladesh safety support in the Senate, that means lined what critics said were the we will be able to push our reform many problems still facing the MILAN: Global high street including regular safety checks garment factories in Bangladesh, be at the forefront of contribut- agenda, the laws that we feel are Philippines’ young democracy, brands including Benetton, Mango and the use of single occupancy churning out products for Western ing to a significant and lasting our priorities for the country,” 27 years after the end of dictator and Marks & Spencer yesterday factories, Hundal said. fashion labels which sell the cloth- improvement in working condi- presidential spokesman Edwin Ferdinand Marcos’s rule. committed to abide by an agree- M&S buys from around 60 fac- ing at many times the cost price. tions and safety in Bangladesh,” Lacierda told reporters. Marcos’s 83-year-old widow, ment to improve working con- tories in Bangladesh. The pact with The announcements came as said Benetton Chief Executive Aquino won a landslide election Imelda, easily won a second straight ditions in Bangladeshi factories the union federations IndustriALL Bangladeshi troops wrapped up Biagio Chiarolanza. victory in 2010 on a platform to term in the nation’s lower house after a plant there collapsed kill- and UNI, which represent tens the search for survivors in the Fashion label Mango said it fight corruption and improve the representing a northern province, ing more than 1,100 people. of millions of garment industry collapsed nine-storey building too would “adhere to and sign” standard of governance, problems Ilocos Norte, that for decades has The announcements came workers, is overseen by the United outside the capital that imploded the safety accord proposed by the widely blamed for crushing pov- been a loyal family stronghold. Her after clothing giants Inditex of Nations International Labour on April 24, killing 1,127. union bodies, a spokesperson for erty that most of the nation’s 100 son is half way through a six-year Spain and H&M of Sweden said Organisation. Activists had set Police have arrested 12 people the brand in Madrid said. million people endure. term in the senate and is eyeing a on Monday that they were sign- May 15 as a deadline for signing. over the tragedy, including the The accord is a five-year com- He was widely credited at home presidential run in 2016. ing up to the Accord on Fire and The full list of signatories has owner of the building and four mitment by all stakeholders and abroad for a successful start to Former president and convicted Building Safety following the dis- yet to be revealed, but US-based factory owners who are accused towards improving working con- the massive task, and he remains plunderer Joseph Estrada, who was aster at a garment factory that PVH, owner of the Tommy of forcing staff to return to work ditions in the garment industry. one of the most popular presidents forced from power in 2001 amid a supplied Western retailers. Hilfiger and Calvin Klein brands, a day after cracks emerged in the Details are still due to be released in the country’s history. In his first popular uprising, was also elected The agreement, which is due to and Germany’s Tchibo, were structure, prompting evacuation. later by all the parties involved three years, Aquino had majority mayor of Manila, the nation’s capi- be formally signed in the coming among the first to back it, accord- Hundreds of factories which but signatories have begun reveal- support of the lower house but not tal, giving him oversight of more days, commits retailers to paying ing to anti-sweatshop network form the hub of Bangladesh’s gar- ing some of the measures. the Senate. than 1.6 million people. for factory repairs and ensuring The Clean Clothes Campaign. ment industry have been forced The plan, which was first He was still able to get through “This is a victory of the Filipino an efficient system for building Tchibo communications direc- to shut indefinitely after worker launched in 2012, includes important and controversial masses,” Estrada said after he was and fire safety inspection. tor Arnd Liedtke said: “We have unrest sparked by the accident. appointing an independent chief pieces of legislation, such as the proclaimed the winner, insisting “We recognise the need for joined this agreement because it Benetton, which has around inspector to “design and imple- mainly Catholic country’s first his successful political comeback a safer garment industry in allows us to join forces.” “We can- 6,500 outlets in 120 countries, was ment a fire safety inspection state-backed birth control pro- vindicated his long campaign to Bangladesh,” said Krishan not change things alone,” he said. one of the companies that was programme that is credible and gramme and increased “sin” taxes clear his name. Estrada, 76, is Hundal, director of sourcing at Bangladesh is the world’s sec- being supplied by the building effective.” It also requires qualified for tobacco and alcohol. one of the leaders of the main Britain’s Marks & Spencer. “All ond-largest apparel maker and that collapsed, along with Britain’s experts to “complete a full and One of Aquino’s most impor- opposition coalition, the United our suppliers must adhere to the $20bn industry accounted for Primark and Spain’s Mango. rigorous review of current build- tant upcoming reforms is a Nationalist Alliance. our strict ethical standards as up to 80 percent of annual exports “We decided to support this ing standards and regulations” for planned peace pact with rebels AFP a condition of working with us,” last year. There are around 4,500 agreement so that our group can garment manufacturers. AFP

Indonesia police kill terror suspect Malaysian poll JAKARTA: Indonesian police have shot dead a man who attacked them with a homemade bomb and is suspected of being protesters part of a terror network targeted in deadly raids last week, an official said. The man threw the pipe-bomb at a traffic police released on bail post in Tasikmalaya city, West Java province, late Monday but it failed to explode, said national police spokesman Boy Rafli Amar. SINGAPORE: Twenty-one Two traffic policemen chased the suspect but he resisted arrest Malaysians arrested in Singapore by attacking one of the officers with a machete and attempting for staging an illegal protest fol- to fire a homemade gun at them which failed to go off, he said. lowing disputed elections in their “Police then shot him dead,” Amar added. neighbouring homeland have been released on bail, police said Taipei to hold naval drill near Manila yesterday. “They have been released on TAIPEI: Taiwan stepped up pressure on Manila yester- bail. Police investigations are day, saying it would conduct a naval drill in waters near the ongoing,” the Singapore Police Philippines if Manila did not officially apologise for the killing of Force said. The 21 arrested com- a Taiwanese fisherman. Taiwan has demanded the Philippines prised of eight males and 13 apologise by midnight over the killing of the 65-year-old fish- females, aged from 21 to 40 years erman by coastguards last week or face a potential freeze in old, the statement said. No fur- sending workers to the island. The defence ministry said the ther information was given. military was prepared to conduct an exercise in the waters The protesters were detained on where Hung Shih-cheng of the 15-tonne Guang Ta Hsin 28 was Saturday after staging a rally at a shot last Thursday. Taiwan has also asked the Philippines to park along Singapore’s Marina Bay bring to justice the coastguards responsible and start negotiat- promenade, despite police warn- ing a fisheries agreement. ings not to repeat a protest held on Muslim Rohingya kids walk in front of their tents as rain falls at Mansi Internally Displaced Persons camp in Sittwe, the same spot three days earlier by N Korea should not expect rewards: US yesterday. some 100 Malaysians. No arrests were made in the SEOUL: US envoy on North Korea, Glyn Davies, said yesterday first rally, but police warned for- that Pyongyang should expect no reward for its apparent deci- Myanmar boat capsizes, 58 missing eigners to adhere to Singapore’s sion to cancel an expected missile launch at a time of elevated laws against illegal protests. military tensions. “I don’t think we should any longer be in the That initial rally coincided with business of treating the absence of bad behaviour as something SITTWE, MYANMAR: Resc- communal violence between An update from Asean’s disas- a mammoth protest in Kuala that needs to be rewarded,” Davies said after a meeting with his uers were yesterday searching Buddhists and Muslims last year. ter relief arm said the Pauktaw Lumpur by the Malaysian oppo- South Korean counterpart Lim Sung-Nam. A US defence offi- for 58 missing Rohingya Muslims Myanmar’s department of camps housed 17,000 displaced sition, which claims it was robbed cial said last week that two North Korean missiles — primed whose boat capsized in western meteorology said the cyclone people and were “particularly vul- of victory in the May 5 parliamen- for imminent test firing — had been moved from their launch Myanmar as they fled a looming was travelling through the Bay nerable”, adding that camps sited tary elections through fraud. site. US and South Korean officials had been worried that any cyclone, state media said, as the of Bengal about 820km from on rice paddies would be swamped Under Singapore’s Public test of the medium-range Musudan missiles would trigger a storm threatened thousands liv- the state capital Sittwe with by any storm surge. Fear of the Order Act, organisers of illegal fresh surge in military tensions that escalated after the North’s ing in makeshift camps. wind speeds of about 100km per impending storm has spread protests can be jailed for up to nuclear test in February. Davies was in Seoul on the first leg of The boat, which sank after hour and would make landfall through the makeshift camps. six months or fined $8,100. They a three-nation tour to discuss the North Korea nuclear issue hitting rocks in a coastal water- tomorrow near the Myanmar- “We are holding prayers at can also be both jailed and fined. with officials in South Korea, Japan and China. way on Monday night, was one of Bangladesh border. the camp not to be hit by the Participants can be fined up seven vessels carrying Rohingya It threatens to worsen the cyclone. We have suffered so to Sg$5,000. Foreigners jailed in Japan seizes Taiwanese fishing boat seeking out higher ground from humanitarian crisis in Rakhine, much already,” Maung Maung, Singapore are normally deported a camp in Pauktaw township in which was sparked by two out- a Rohingya at Thechaung camp after serving their sentences. TOKYO: Japan yesterday seized a Taiwanese fishing boat inside Rakhine state, according to state breaks of deadly religious vio- near Sittwe said. The Malaysian opposition, led its exclusive economic zone, the first incident since Tokyo and television. “The rescue operation lence beginning last June that saw He said the authorities had given by former deputy prime minister Taipei signed a fishing rights accord for disputed waters, the is ongoing because 58 people are around 200 people killed and the information and some assistance, Anwar Ibrahim, has called for a Fisheries Agency said. The Taiwanese fishing boat was spot- still missing,” it said, adding that homes of tens of thousands razed. but added it was not enough. “We wave of protests after the ruling ted in waters near Taketomi island, part of Japan’s southern 42 people had been rescued. In Geneva a spokesman for the are still living under the rain,” he coalition was returned to power Okinawa chain, One of the agency’s patrol ships seized the boat Cyclone Mahasen has UN’s refugee agency said millions said. Some Rohingya have report- despite receiving less than 50 and arrested the captain, it said. The incident occurred outside prompted mass evacuations in of people living in the area could edly refused to leave their shelters percent of votes cast. Malaysians the waters that are at the centre of a three-way territorial tussle Rakhine, where about 140,000 be hit, with latest estimates sug- in a sign of the festering mistrust overseas, including in Australia and involving Taipei, Tokyo and Beijing for which Japan and Taiwan people, mainly Rohingya, are liv- gesting some 69,000 displaced of their ethnic Rakhine neighbours Taiwan, have also held rallies to have agreed fishing rights. ing in flimsy tents or makeshift people in three locations were at and of security forces. protest against the election results. AGENCIES housing after two waves of deadly particular risk. AFP AFP WEDNESDAY 15 MAY 2013 PAKISTAN / AFGHANISTAN www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 13

Pakistan envoy New Pakistan govt by June 2 to US resigns ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Ambassador to the US Sherry Rehman has resigned follow- 60 percent turnout in election hailed ing the landmark election won by former prime minister ISLAMABAD: As the country awaits Nizami also lauded the role of the armed Nawaz Sharif. Rehman , 52, the first democratic transition of power, forces and law-enforcement agencies, add- was appointed in 2011 follow- the caretaker administration yesterday ing that though violence was witnessed ing a scandal which saw her said powers would be transferred to the across the country in the run-up to the predecessor Hussain Haqqani new government by June 2. election, miscreants failed to derail the resign over an alleged memo Caretaker Information Minister democratic process. seeking US help in prevent- Arif Nizami told a news conference in On reports of delay in the start of poll- ing a coup following the kill- Islamabad that the interim government ing and rigging allegations, he said the ing of Osama Bin Laden. should be given credit for holding the election tribunal would pass judgments She is a prominent figure in election on Saturday despite rumours of on a case by case basis. the Pakistan People’s Party, a delay and the threat from elements hell Caretaker Prime Minister Mir Hazar which led the outgoing gov- bent on sabotaging the process. Khan Khoso said statements by any ernment but saw its sup- Two days after the historic election, political group which provoke violence or port collapse at the polls on Nizami said that in the next phase, ses- foment anti-federation feelings are detri- Saturday. Meanwhile, former sions of the national and provincial assem- mental to national integrity at this critical ambassador to the US, blies would be summoned for elected juncture of Pakistan’s history. Husain Haqqani, cast doubt representatives to take oath. Urging all sides to uphold the on Sharif’s overtures to the He said the voter turnout of more than Constitution, he expressed confidence that US and India, saying he had 60 percent was a big improvement over the parties and people would show restraint a poor record on opposing last election and the credit goes to citizens and ensure smooth transition of power in Supporters of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz celebrate after the results of the general extremists. He said Sharif who participated in the democratic proc- democratic traditions. election in Lahore. may not back up his state- ess despite terror threats. AGENCIES ments with substance and faulted Sharif for the creation of Lashkar-e-Taiba, a viru- lently anti-Indian movement, and said he was premier dur- ing the Kargil war with India Sharif’s party may form in divided Kashmir in 1999. Fresh twist in terror trial Islamabad plans coalition in Baluchistan ISLAMABAD: A lawyer for brought before the court in poor held. Was the due process fol- five top projects seven terror suspects, whose health, barely able to stand or lowed and the trials held in a fair QUETTA: The party of Pakistan’s incoming prime minister Nawaz illegal detention has been inves- talk. manner?” Chaudhry said. ISLAMABAD: The Capital Sharif is likely to form a coalition government with nationalists in tigated by Pakistan’s top court, Yesterday they were in court Asad said after the hearing that Development Authority of the country’s troubled southwest, officials said yesterday. yesterday said tribal officials again, handcuffed but in good the court should have ordered his Islamabad has prepared five The move could help bring the nationalists in Baluchistan province, had sentenced them to up to 14 health, where their lawyer told clients’ release. All suspects have mega development projects who have long-held grievances against the central government, into the years in prison. the judge that on May 2 they pleaded innocence. it would present to the mainstream of Pakistani politics — though more hardline separatist It was the latest dramatic twist were handed jail terms by tribal The case concerned a group of new government. Incoming groups boycotted the poll. in a case that has highlighted authorities — five for 14 years 11 men but the court was told last Premier Nawaz Sharif had “We are in talks with all nationalist parties, they are our priority the illegal detention of hundreds and two for five years. Each had year that four had died. said during his election victory and we hope that we will form a coalition government with them,” of terror suspects in a country also been fined 100,000 rupees Amnesty International says the speech on May 11 in Lahore Abdul Qadir, a newly elected PML-N MP said. where the courts have failed to ($1,000), Tariq Asad said. military had arbitrarily detained that his party would come up “We want to form the government with both the Baluch and Pashtun make any high-level convictions. “They were standing on a thousands for long periods with with a development package nationalist parties,” Qadir said. The seven were arrested in veranda on May 2 and a tribal little or no access to due process. for people and “will address Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) won eight of the 51 November 2007 but acquitted in official in lower Orakzai agency Attorney General Irfan Qadir their issues within 100 days.” directly elected seats in the provincial assembly, while the Pakhtunkhwa May 2010. (district) came and told them of in January said security agencies The projects include residen- Milli Awami Party (PKMAP) led by nationalist leader Mahmood Khan Shortly afterwards they dis- their jail sentences without hold- are holding at least 700 people tial sectors C-14 and C-15, Achakzai emerged as the largest with nine seats. appeared and their families peti- ing any trial,” Asad said. The without trial in connection with Bus Rapid Transport Service, Muhammad Usman Kakar, provincial president of PKMAP con- tioned the Supreme Court to semi-autonomous tribal belt in terror charges. He said none meeting the revenue target firmed that his party was in talks with PML-N and other parties but track down their whereabouts. the northwest operates a tribal of the suspects could be freed of Rs20bn by implementing said that as his party had most seats, with nine, it should nominate The decision to take up the case justice system outside the main- until military operations end in bylaws on 33 housing societies the chief minister. is seen as a challenge to percep- stream judiciary. the tribal belt, and declined to in the city, launching of sector The Islamist Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) party led by pro- tions that the country’s security Chief Justice Iftikhar say how long they had been in I-12 (Islamabad Saddar), and Taliban cleric Fazlur Rehman, and Baluch nationalist National Party services operate above the law. Muhammad Chaudhry demanded custody. CDA Medical College. secured six seats each. Results for six constituencies are still awaited, But the men are still incarcer- that authorities submit the record Troops have been fighting according to the election commission. The hardline Jamhoori Watan ated more than 15 months after of the trials at the next hearing Islamist militants in border areas Schoolgirls hit Party, whose former leader Sardar Akbar Bugti was killed in a military the Supreme Court intervened. on May 20. “Authorities should with Afghanistan since 2002 with operation in 2006, boycotted the poll. AFP In February 2012 they were explain when their trials were no end in sight. AGENCIES by gas leak KABUL: Around 150 school- Vote-rigging protest girls were hit by poison- ous gases in Mazar-i-Sharif, the capital of Afghanistan’s Bhutto case: Musharraf’s northern province of Balkh, yesterday. Col. Abdul Razzaq Qadiri, provincial police chief, said the incident took place house arrest extended at the Khurasan Girls’ High School. The students were RAWALPINDI: A Pakistani Chaudhry Zulfiqar Ali, was shot taken to hospital and police anti-terrorism court yester- dead in Islamabad en route to were investigating. Education day extended former mili- court on May 3. Director Qais Mohraeen tary ruler Pervez Musharraf’s Musharraf is accused of con- said the girls were hit by gas house arrest over the murder spiracy to murder two-time prime from a septic well close to the of Benazir Bhutto for 14 days, a minister Bhutto, whose Pakistan school. But a teacher, who prosecutor said. People’s Party (PPP) was elected did not want to be named, The court in the garrison into power in February 2008 on a said there was no septic well town of Rawalpindi neighbour- wave of sympathy over her death. around the school and they ing Islamabad also put off hearing Musharraf’s government never felt such a poisonous a bail application by Musharraf blamed the killing on Pakistani odour before. until May 20, Chaudhry Azhar Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud, said. who denied any involvement and Kabul summons He said, “the court extended was killed in a US drone attack Musharraf’s judicial remand until in 2009. Iran envoy May 28 when it hears the case Musharraf returned from again,” adding that the adjourn- exile in March to stand in the KABUL: Afghanistan’s ment came after Musharraf’s May 11 general election, vow- Ministry of Foreign Affairs lawyer Salman Safdar could not ing to “save” the country from has summoned the Iranian attend the hearing. militancy and economic collapse Ambassador in protest over This was the first hearing but he was barred from running the nine Afghan travel- after the main state prosecutor over charges dating back to his lers killed by Iranian border handling Bhutto’s 2007 murder 1999-2008 rule. police. A ministry spokes- Imran Khan’s supporters protest against alleged vote-rigging in Lahore, yesterday. The incoming Premier, Nawaz and the 2008 Mumbai attacks, AFP person said the government Sharif, urged Khan to “show the sportsman’s spirit” and drop his rigging complaints. He said voting had been expressed concern and asked by and large “free and fair” and all sides should accept the results. the ambassador to provide information. The ministry is pursuing the issue with the Iranian embassy and the Iranian consulate in Herat, Obama to announce Seven Nato soldiers killed the spokesman added. AGENCIES KANDAHAR: A roadside said the victims were American. Turkish authorities.” Four bomb killed four US soldiers in At around 2.30pm, a Nato vehicle Turkish engineers were freed on Turkish trader Afghan troops plan south Afghanistan yesterday, hit a roadside mine in Zhari dis- Sunday. The militants made no officials said, the latest fatalities trict, he said. reference to a Russian, a Kyrgyz kidnapped STOCKHOLM: US President beyond 2014.” He said Afghanistan for the Nato-led coalition which This year, 46 US soldiers and and an Afghan also taken hostage Barack Obama will announce in was beginning its first “fighting is winding down after 12 years 13 from coalition nations have after the crash-landing on April KABUL: Turkish business- the next few weeks how many season” with its forces holding of fighting. died, according to the “icasual- 21 in Kabul. man Sami Yavuz, 41, was combat troops the US will most responsibility for operations In a separate incident, three ties” website. Four-star US General Philip kidnapped by gunmen in leave in Afghanistan in 2014, and they were doing well. Georgian soldiers were killed in Taliban insurgents, meanwhile, Breedlove, 57, assumed command Afghanistan, the Turkish Secretary of State John Kerry In Washington, State neighbouring Helmand province said they had released the final of Nato, promising to bolster the Anadolu Agency said yester- said yesterday. Department spokeswoman Jen when a suicide bomber detonated four Turkish engineers held hos- 28-member alliance. day. The head of Afghanistan Obama has set 2014 as the Psaki said said Kerry hoped to a vehicle laden with explosives. tage since their helicopter crash- In London, Defence Minister Turkish Industrialists and target for withdrawing most visit Pakistan once the new gov- The US soldiers died in landed in the eastern province of Philip Hammond said some Businessmen’s Association troops but the decision is a deli- ernment of Nawaz Sharif was in Kandahar. Logar last month. British troops will have to stay in was kidnapped late on cate one as sufficient forces must place. “We can confirm that four sol- “The remaining four Turkish Afghanistan into 2015 to ensure Sunday. stay behind to train and support Kerry spoke to Sharif on the diers were killed in a roadside nationals were released today the departure of forces is properly The gunmen forced him into Afghan forces and carry out some phone on Sunday “to congratu- bomb in southern Afghanistan as a sign of goodwill and as an managed. a car in Kabul and drove away. operations. late him on his strong showing in today,” an International Security Islamic and humanitarian gesture British troops serve around six Yavuz has been living in Kabul Kerry declined to discuss how Saturday’s election,” Psaki said. Assistance Force spokesman of respect to the Muslim Turkish months in Afghanistan, but those with his family for more than many troops might remain but Kerry also told Sharif that “he said. nation,” the insurgents said in an deploying in October will stay for 10 years. said: “He (Obama) is committed looks forward to working with A spokesman for the provin- emailed statement. eight months. AGENCIES to supporting the Afghan military the government.” AGENCIES cial government of Kandahar “They were delivered to AGENCIES WEDNESDAY 15 MAY 2013 14 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com INDIA Khurshid to Vaccine for rotavirus visit Saudi for talks diarrhoea developed on Nitaqat NEW DELHI: External $1-a-dose oral treatment ready for production Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid goes to Saudi Arabia NEW DELHI: Indian sci- Rotavirus causes up to 884,000 group called the Data Safety on May 24-27, the first visit by entists yesterday announced hospitalisations in India a year, at Monitoring Board (DSMB) over- an Indian foreign minister in a low-cost vaccine against a a cost to the country of Rs3.4bn saw the clinical trials. the last five years, during which deadly diarrhoea-causing virus ($72m), and kills around 100,000 “In February 2013, the DSMB the kingdom’s Nitaqat work pol- that kills some 100,000 children small children annually in the determined that the trial met the icy, regional and international in th country every year. country, the government says. highest standards of ethics and issues would be discussed. Rotavirus, which causes severe The Indian vaccine named patient care and complied with Then external affairs minister diarrhoea, is globally responsible Rotavac will be made by international standards for good Pranab Mukherjee had visited for some 453,000 deaths annually Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech, clinical practices,” a government Saudi Arabia in 2008. Khurshid’s and is particularly dangerous in which has said it has the capacity statement said. visit comes days after the trip of the developing world where swift to mass-produce tens of millions Public health researcher Nita a high level Indian delegation, health care is often out of reach. of doses after clearance is given, Bhandari, who was part of a led by Overseas Indian Affairs K Vijaraghavan, secretary of expected in eight or nine months. 400-member team involved in Minister Vayalar Ravi, to the Department of Biotechnology Rotavac vaccination consists the large-scale trial, said the kingdom to discuss the Nitaqat which led the quest for an afford- of three doses. Sheela Panicker, health officials operated under law, under which is it manda- able vaccine, said it was a prod- a Bharat Biotech spokeswoman, the “strictest ethical guidelines” tory for local companies to hire uct of international cooperation said the drops will be used in set by the government. one Saudi national for every 10 although it has yet to be approved India and in other developing “We have now added to our migrant workers. by Indian drug authorities. countries. “We have pledged it to know-how and capacity in ways Minister of State for External “The result is a world-class the government and the vaccine which will pay dividends for devel- Affairs E Ahamed and Adviser vaccine for India’s children,” he will be also be supplied to devel- opment of future solutions,” said to Prime Minister T KA Nair told a press conference. “For the oping countries through a UN Vijaraghavan, secretary of India’s were also part of the delegation first time, we have taken a vac- agency,” she said. Department of Biotechnology. that met Saudi Arabian Labour cine from the earliest discovery India has been a powerhouse Vijaraghavan’s predecessor, M Minister Adel Fakieh last month to every stage of development and in developing cheap medicines K Bhan, pioneered the vaccine to convey India’s concern over the that is a very remarkable thing to treat diseases such as can- project after scientists discovered Nitaqat programme introduced for India,” he said, adding that the cer, tuberculosis and Aids for a local strain of rotavirus 23 years eariler this year. $1-a-dose oral vaccine was ready those who cannot afford expen- ago in a New Delhi hospital. “A The naturalisation law has led for production. sive branded versions across the total 25 percent of all diarrhoeal to concerns among Indian work- While international pharma- developing world. hospital admissions will be pre- ers that it will lead to denial of ceutical giants GlaxoSmithKline The government said the third vented by this vaccine,” Bhan said. job opportunities for them. Over and Merck produce similar vac- and final round of clinical trials “That means you will have 25 300,000 firms in Saudi Arabia cines, each dose costs around involving 6,799 infants began in percent fewer diarrhoeal illnesses reportedly do not employ any Rs1,000 ($18), said Sushmita March 2011 and was monitored by of a severe nature in India, which A file picture of a man looking after his child suffering diarrhoea outside a locals and the Nitaqat policy Malaviya of PATH, an interna- private and state health agencies. is a very substantial public health hospital in Malda district, some 500km north of Kolkata. seeks to deal firmly with this. tional health care organisation. It said an independent experts’ gain,” he said. AFP Under the new law, foreigners are allowed to only work for their legal sponsors and their spouses won’t be allowed to take up jobs. Also, the expatriates cannot per- form any job other than the one mentioned in their job cards. Group of ministers to frame law on CBI autonomy Saudi Arabia had last month given a three-month grace period NEW DELHI: The govern- for the independence of the (Civil) No. 120 of 2012, within and said “the heart of the report made independent, it will step in to foreigner workers to regularise ment yesterday constituted a Central Bureau of Investigation three weeks,” the release said. was changed on the suggestions of and noted that CBI must know their status. Saudi Arabia on May Group of Ministers (GoM) to (CBI) and its functional auton- It said that the department the government officials”. how to stand up against all pulls 10 offered “some options for expa- prepare a law on the autonomy omy,” an official release said. of personnel and training will The court’s observations had and pressures by government and triate workers”, said the external and independence of the CBI in The GoM would be headed ensure that agenda/papers/min- come on CBI director Ranjit its officials. affairs ministry spokesperson. the wake of Supreme Court’s by Finance Minister P utes of the meetings were expe- Sinha’s second affidavit which The court had said the best He said the number of Indian scathing observations on the Chidambaram and has Home ditiously forwarded to the Prime stated that the then Law Minister things would be that such a law workers in Saudi Arabia are investigating agency following Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, Minister’s Office and the Cabinet Ashwani Kumar and senior offi- was put in place before the next 2.8 million. He said both sides its affidavit in the case relating Communications and Information Secretariat. cials of the Prime Minister’s Office hearing of the case July 10 so that would try and ensure that Saudi to the allocation of coal blocks. Technology Minister Kapil Sibal The Supreme Court had last and the coal ministry had made there would be an impartial and policies “which are largely The GoM will prepare a draft and External Affairs Minister week termed the CBI a “caged certain changes in the report on non-partisan independent inves- domestic in nature are imple- law and a draft affidavit to be Salman Khurshid as members. parrot” that “speaks in its mas- the allocation of coal blocks. tigating agency. mented in a manner that takes filed in the Supreme Court within Minister of State in the Prime ter’s voice” and asked the gov- The Supreme Court had asked It had said that job of CBI is into account the humanitarian three weeks. Minister’s Office V. Narayanasamy ernment whether it intended to the government whether it was not to interact with government needs of Indian nationals who “The prime minister has is also a member of the committee. make the agency’s functioning contemplating a law to make the officials but to interrogate to find are residents there”. approved constitution of a Group “The GoM will prepare the independent. working of the CBI independent the truth. Energy cooperation would also of Ministers (GoM) to consider draft law and the draft affidavit It had expressed displeasure at and insulate it from extraneous The court’s observations had be discussed. India imports 17 per- the matter relating to an appro- to be filed in the Supreme Court the government’s interference in intrusion and interferences. forced Ashwani Kumar to resign. cent of its oil from Saudi Arabia. priate law being made to provide in the context of the Writ Petition the coal allocation probe report It also said that if the CBI is not IANS IANS Beekeeping in Srinagar Scholar Asghar Ali Engineer dies at 74

MUMBAI: Renowned Islamic scholar, pro- gressive thinker, author and Dawoodi Bohra reformist leader Asghar Ali Engineer passed away here yesterday after a prolonged ill- ness, family members said. He was 74. Engineer, a widower, is survived his son Irfaan and daughter Seema Indorewala. He was ail- ing for several months and breathed his last at his Santacruz East home around 8am. The funeral is likely A Kashmiri beekeeper displays a beehive full of honeybees at a farm on the outskirts of Srinagar yesterday. Many to be held today, Irfaan farmers in Kashmir produce honey by using modern beehives. The bee-keeping needs a little more care in Kashmir indicated. during winters when temperatures drop below zero degree Celsius, making bee farming a tough job. The recipient of several awards and honours from around the world, Engineer travelled across the globe speaking at international Sanjay Dutt to go to jail this week conferences, seminars and universities on Islam, peace, human rights and NEW DELHI: Bollywood actor A Supreme Court bench yes- a police uniform for one of his soon- other issues. Sanjay Dutt was set to go to jail terday refused to hear the plea of to-be-released movies. He founded the Institute this week after the top court a film producer who sought more The actor shot to fame in the of Islamic Studies (1980) yesterday dismissed his last- time for Dutt to surrender so he 1980s in a string of action movies and the Centre for Study ditch plea for a review of a five- can complete two films that are in which he performed his own of Society and Secularism year sentence related to the still being shot. The court’s deci- stunts, earning him the nickname (1993), and also authored 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts. sion meant Dutt must surrender “Deadly Dutt”. He is best known around 50 books on vari- The muscular, tattooed to authorities tomorrow to serve for playing a mobster with a heart ous topics and believed in 53-year-old was convicted by the rest of his sentence. of gold in the “Munnabhai” series. treating all religions with an anti-terrorism court in 2006 Analysts estimate about The actor, whose mother was equality. of possessing arms supplied by Rs2.5bn ($45m) is riding in Muslim and father Hindu, was According to reform- the plotters of the deadly bomb Bollywood on Dutt, whose par- acquitted in 2007 of more serious ists, Engineer never attacks, but was freed on bail ents were two of India’s biggest conspiracy charges in the blasts believed in blind accept- after serving 18 months in prison. stars. He has some five films in that killed 257 people. ance of dogmas inherited In March this year, the the pipeline that cannot be com- The attacks were seen as from the past but strived Supreme Court upheld Dutt’s pleted before he goes to prison. retaliation for religious riots in to rethink issues and conviction but cut his jail term to The court’s decision came on a which mainly Muslims died after reinterpret Islam in keep- five years from six. He now must day when full-page advertisements the razing of an old mosque at ing with modern times. serve the remaining three-and-a- appeared in Indian newspapers Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh state. IANS half-years of his term. showing a smiling Dutt dressed in AFP WEDNESDAY 15 MAY 2013 INDIA www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 15 Activists seek Marriage in the air N-power project emergency plan Right to Information application filed

CHENNAI: Anti-nuclear activ- possible emergency situation at ists have sought details of the the KNPP. emergency plan from the author- They also want to know ities to check their preparedness whether the Nuclear Power in evacuating people living within Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) the 16km radius of the Tamil had given the district and police Nadu’s 1,000 MW Kudankulam officials any detailed action plan Nuclear Power Project (KNPP), to tackle any emergency; whether an activist said yesterday. any off-site emergency response “According to the atomic coordination committee exists; energy project norms, the 16km and whether the authoritis have radius from a nuclear power plant stocked iodine tablets. is defined as evacuation zone or While giving its nod for the emergency planning zone. In case KNPP recently, the Supreme of any nuclear accident, people Court had laid a condition that Groom Rajesh Meena and his bride Vinita stand on a half moon-shaped structure during their wedding ceremony near Bhopal. The couple arranged living within that radius have to the NPCIL and the Tamil Nadu a crane to lift them up in the air for a memorable moment. be evacuated. government “...based on the com- “We want to know the pre- prehensive emergency prepared- paredness of the three district ness plan should conduct training administrations in mass evacua- courses for on-site and off-site tion as the Kudankulam plant is personnel”. said to be ready for commission- Such personnel include state Call to settle boundary issue with China ing,” M Pushparayan, a leader of government, police, fire service the People’s Movement Against officials, medicos, and other emer- NEW DELHI: Ahead of and, therefore, we feel it should prolonged negotiations ahead of places in ties with New Delhi, is Nuclear Energy (PMANE), which gency services officials. In June Chinese Premier Li Keqiang’s be pursued as a strategic objec- External Affairs Minister Salman coming on the invitation of Prime has been opposing setting up of 2012, NPCIL and the Tirunelveli three-day state visit from tive by both countries,” he said Khurshid’s May 9 visit to Beijing. Minister Manmohan Singh. the KNPP, said by phone from district administration con- May 19, India yesterday said it in response to a question at a Special representatives of India He will also go to Mumbai Tirunelveli. ducted an emergency exercise at favoured an early settlement briefing. and China have held 15 rounds of where he will address a meet- Pushparayan said there were Nakkanery village, around seven of the boundary question and Akbaruddin said India had talks so far to resolve the bound- ing with the three Indian busi- around 40-50 villages within the km from KNPP, which PMANE the issue should be pursued as earlier made the offer that till ary issue. The talks have led ness chambers, including CII. He 16-km radius of the KNPP. termed as sham and deceptive. a strategic objective by both the border issue is resolved, one to conclusion of the first step - is to also meet relatives of Dr According to the PMANE India’s atomic power plant oper- countries. mechanism was that “we could where “both sides have arrived Dwarkanath Kotnis, an Indian activist, a Right to Information ator NPCIL is setting up the KNPP A day after a senior Chinese sign and clarify the Line of Actual at an agreement on the political physician who provided medi- (RTI) application with 14 queries in Kudankulam in Tirunelveli dis- official, who was here in prepara- Control”. parameters and guiding principles cal assistance during the Second was filed with the Kanyakumari trict in Tamil Nadu, around 650 tion for Li’s visit, said that India The visit of Li comes days after of the boundary question”, said Sino-Japanese War in 1938. district administration yesterday. km from here, with two Russian- and China need to “speed up” India and China ended a 20-day the spokesperson. Premier Li is to hold restricted Similar applications will be made VVER 1,000-MW reactors. their talks to resolve the festering border stand-off following the Discussions are now on the sec- and delegation-level talks with filed with the district administra- KNPP is an outcome of the boundary question, spokesperson April 15 incursion by Chinese ond phase — “the framework for Prime Minister Manmohan tions of Tuticorin and Tirunelveli inter-governmental agreement of the external affairs ministry troops 19km into the Indian side resolution of the boundary ques- Singh, who is hosting a banquet today. The RTI applications seek between India and the erstwhile Syed Akbaruddin said India is of the Line of Actual Control - the tion”, he said, adding that India is for him on May 20. Both lead- information like whether the dis- Soviet Union in 1988. However, keen for an early settlement of de facto border. committed to “seek a fair, reason- ers are also likely to issue a joint trict administration officials and construction began in 2001. the issue. The Chinese troops pitched able, and mutually acceptable solu- statement after their talks. police were consulted about the Fearing for their safety, vil- “It is our conviction that an tents in the Depsang area of tion of the boundary question”. Li will go to Pakistan after his KNPP’s off-site emergency pre- lagers in the vicinity under the early settlement of the bound- Ladakh, prompting Indian troops Premier Li, who has chosen India visit and later Switzerland paredness plan (EPP), or about banner of PMANE have been ary question will advance the to advace their positions. The India as the first port of visit and Germany. ways and means of dealing with opposing the project. IANS basic interest of both countries stand-off was resolved following to highlight the importance he IANS Britain launches same-day visa service for Indians MUMBAI: Britain’s Home excluding students, intending to notice. We want Indian entrepre- Office yesterday announced apply for a six-month or two-year neurs and businessmen to be able launch of a same-day, “super multiple entry visit visa, and hav- to seize these. The UK and India priority” visa service for Indian ing previously travelled to Britain, are already on course to double travellers, an official announce- the US, Australia, New Zealand, bilateral trade by 2015. The new ment said here. Canada or a Schengen country Super Priority Visa will help make The first of its kind service within the last five years. sure that we hit this target”, said launched anywhere in the world, It is also available to visa British High Commissioner to it will be available to Indians applicants sponsored by compa- India, Sir James Bevan. from today. The service is the nies who are members of the UK The SPVS, an optional service, fulfilment of a commitment by Business Express Programme. comes with an additional fee of British Prime Minister David The service will initially be made Rs51,000 besides the standard fee Cameron during his recent visit available from Mumbai and New for the type of visa being applied to India, a spokesperson for the Delhi, and in the near future from for. Applicants must complete British Deputy High Commision Chennai. an online form and submit their here said. “This underlines our strong applications, by appointment, The Super Priority Visa Service commitment to make an already before 9.30am. If an application (SPVS), which complements excellent visa service even bet- is successful, the visa will be ready the existing Fast Track Service ter. We expect this new service for collection by 5.30pm the same and the recent Online Payment to be particularly useful for busi- day in New Delhi or by 6.30pm the Option, will be available to Indians, ness. Opportunities arise at short same day in Mumbai. IANS

Attracting butterfly Antony orders probe into Navy sex scandal

NEW DELHI: Another sex scandal has hit the Indian Navy with the wife of an officer alleg- ing her husband tortured her mentally and physically and forced her to sleep with his col- leagues. Defence Minister A K Antony has ordered a probe. According to a source, the woman’s father has written to the navy and the defence min- istry on April 25 with the com- plaints. Antony in an address to naval commanders, urged them to “take sternest possible action against those who tarnish the image and prestige of the Armed Forces, whenever such incident come to their notice”. The min- ister has asked the navy to probe the allegations. The navy has ordered an inves- tigation against the husband, a lieutenant commander, the source said. The officer is posted at the A butterfly sucks nectar from a flower on the outskirts of Srinagar, the Naval Ship Repair Yard (NSRY) summer capital of Kashmir, yesterday. at Karwar in Karnataka. IANS WEDNESDAY 15 MAY 2013 BREAK 16 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

PRAYER TIME DiCaprio’s environmental Fajr (Dawn) 3:25 art auction Shorook (Sunrise) 4:49 Zuhr (Noon) 11:30 tops $38m Asr (Afternoon) 2:57 NEW YORK: Leonardo Maghrib (Sunset) 6:12 DiCaprio urged wealthy art col- Isha (Night) 7:42 lectors yesterday to bid at an environmental charity auction in New York as if the planet’s fate “depends on us” — and they WEATHER responded by splashing out $38.8m. The “11th Hour” auction at Today Thrursday Friday Weather Conditions: Christie’s featured 33 works of Clear Clear Clear mostly contemporary art, much Slight dusty of it created for the event and with some addressing environmental themes. The strong result doubled pre- High: 39° clouds. High: 39° High: 37° sale estimates, with nine of the Low: 30° Low: 29° Low: 28° works selling for more than $1m. Among the main sellers, Mark Grotjahn’s Untitled went for $6.5m and Zeng Fanzhi’s The Tiger DOHA - SUN & SEA fetched $5m, both of them dou- bling their estimates in enthusias- SUN TIDE SEA tic bidding from around the world. SUNRISE | SUNSET HIGH | LOW WIND Most of the proceeds went to environmental protection causes 04:49 18:12 07:00 & 20:45 03:45 & 12:45 05-12 /18 KT championed by the Hollywood actor’s Leonardo DiCaprio THE REGION TODAY TOMORROW Foundation. HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER Even after the sale, the haul shot up when an anonymous collector MUSCAT 42/31 Clear 42/31 Clear donated $5m to match the prices MAKKAH 42/31 Clear 42/31 Clear realised for all three tiger paintings KUWAIT 38/24 Clear 36/25 Clear featuring in the line-up “in order BAHRAIN 35/29 Clear 35/28 Clear to protect tigers,” Christie’s said. SANAA 37/25 Mostly cloudy 36/25 Chance of storms “The gifts of many other gen- RIYADH 34/24 Partly cloudy 36/23 Clear erous donors totalled $500,000, DUBAI 37/26 Partly cloudy 39/26 Partly cloudy generating an overall amount of BAGHDAD 35/20 Partly cloudy 32/21 Partly cloudy $38.8m,” the auction house said. DiCaprio, currently starring THE WORLD TODAY TOMORROW in a lavish new production of The Great Gatsby, describes his foun- HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER dation as “dedicated to protecting the last wild places on Earth and ATHENS 29/18 Mostly cloudy 31/19 Mostly cloudy the critically endangered species WASHINGTON 28/18 Chance of storm 27/16 Chance of storm that inhabit them.” A 2013 portrait SYDNEY 23/10 Clear 22/09 Clear of DiCaprio himself by Elizabeth Peyton sold for $1.05m, compared LONDON 14/06 Chance of rain 17/07 Chance of rain to its $400,000-600,000 estimate. PARIS 19/11 Chance of rain 19/10 Chance of rain The Hollywood element added ISTANBUL 19/14 Chance of rain 22/15 Partly cloudy even more glitz to the already MANILA 33/26 T-storms 34/26 Chance of storms luxurious atmosphere of a DHAKA 32/25 Mostly cloudy 27/23 Partly cloudy Manhattan Christie’s auction DELHI 39/28 Clear 41/27 Clear room, with actress Salma Hayek ISLAMABAD 36/22 Clear 39/21 Clear joining DiCaprio in the audience. AFP Wednesday 15 May 2013 5 Rajab 1434 Volume 18 Number 5700 Price: QR2

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 QP subsidiary renamed Alwaseeta Firm evaluating investment opportunities in Africa, Europe and Far East Asian countries, says energy minister

BY MOHAMMAD SHOEB event, reiterated that the initia- company also has presence out- tive aims to consolidate the char- side Qatar, and as part of its DOHA: Qatar Intermediate acter of the company. expansion plan, it is busy nego- Industries holding Co Ltd Al Sada added: “The change tiating with some Korean com- (Qatar Holding), a subsidiary of of the company’s name coin- panies to acquire more assets in Qatar Petroleum (QP), yester- cides with a reinvigorating drive the same line of industries. day unveiled the company’s new towards Alwasseta’s vision of “The company is also evalu- identity ‘Qatar Intermediate creating partnerships and invest- ating investment opportunities Industries Co Ltd’ (‘Alwaseeta’ ment opportunities for the down- in the intermediate industries in Arabic), and also announced stream intermediate industrial in Africa, Europe and Far East details about its QR5bn expan- ventures.” Asian countries including Korea,” sion plan to diversify the econ- “Currently we are focusing he said. omy in line with Qatar National to expand our investment inside “Alwaseeta has stakes in many Vision 2030. and outside Qatar to diversify our companies, but the idea is to fos- Alwaseeta (under its new economy. We have new factories ter and develop more companies brand name) is working on five and refineries and also upgrading to utilise the feedstock available new projects worth QR3bn in the existing refineries located in locally. However, these compa- Qatar, and is also busy in evalu- Mesaieed Industrial City.” nies will also import the catalysts ating and exploring viable invest- Asked if it would mean a from outside,” said Al Sada. ment opportunities overseas in change in the company’s busi- The proposed enhancement in the intermediary industries. ness strategy, he said: “We will production will be made for dual At the unveiling ceremony, the continue to focus on intermedi- purpose, domestic consumption Minister of Energy and Industry ate industries to promote small as well as export. and Chairman of the Alwaseeta and medium enterprises (SMEs) Vice Chairman and Managing Board, H E Dr Mohammed capitalising the winning proposi- Director of Alwaseeta, Ali Hassan bin Saleh Al Sada, said: “We tions of Qatari industries, feed- Al Sidky, said: “At the moment are changing the logo and the stock availabilities to achieve the we are in very advanced stages character of the company as visionary objectives of the Emir (close to feed-stage) on two Alwaseeta, which roughly means H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa hydrocarbon projects and three ‘intermediate industry’. This Al Thani.” metal projects worth QR3bn.” will help avoid any mix-up or Alwaseeta has many joint Asked if the company is con- The Minister of Energy and Industry H E Dr Mohammed bin Saleh Al Sada and Vice Chairman and Managing confusion with another com- venture companies and assets sidering for initial public offer- Director of Alwaseeta, Ali Hassan Al Sidky, unveiling the new logo yesterday. pany by the same name (Qatar in Qatar that produces inter- ings (IPOs), he said: “As of now Holding, an investment arm of mediate products such as alka- we are not going to issue any IPO, the Qatar Investment Authority) line, benzene and industrial gas, but we will be issuing in future.” However, we will explore every industries to utilise the feed- Sidiky. The event was attended which also has an international and it also has stakes in Qatar Despite prodding he did not opportunity that we have to stock and raw materials avail- by dignitaries and senior level presence.” Melamine Company (QMC) with specify any date for the same, finance our projects.” able in Qatar mainly from Qatar executives and guests from local Dr Al Sada, while speaking to Qafco. adding: “Regarding IPO, it is “We are investing in possi- Petroleum and government’s and international companies. the media on the sidelines of the He further added that the for the government to decide. bly all kinds of intermediary upstream industries,” said Al THE PENINSULA QPI hopes to extend Centrica deal BG tightens focus on

DOHA: Qatar Petroleum in gas. With everything happen- producing assets could potentially competition for sales that Qatari International (QPI) hopes ing in the United States today we see QPI start LNG exports from LNG exporters can hedge against LNG exploration to extend its new deal with are trying to register a position,” Canada, he said. by expanding their production in Britain’s Centrica by acquiring Nasser Al Jaidah said in an inter- “What we are trying to do now North America. LONDON: Oil and gas group Frank Chapman retired several more gas or tight oil resources view yesterday. “We are hoping is extensive cooperation with Last week, ExxonMobil and QP BG will focus on exploration, months early due to illness. across North America, the chief to extend the Centrica deal in international energy companies. said they planned to ship LNG liquefied natural gas (LNG) and New chief executive Chris executive said. North America, through acquisi- This is the vehicle we are choos- to Britain if a plan to turn the selling or partnering more of Finlayson, who took over at the Centrica and QPI said in April tions and other means. Not the oil ing, for the moment,” Jaidah said. Golden Pass Qatari LNG import its discoveries as part of a new start of 2013, set himself a more they would buy Suncor Energy sands, but gas or oil or tight oil.” A shale gas boom in North terminal in Texas into an export emphasis on profitability after modest 2015 output target of Inc’s gas business in Canada for The Canadian assets that America over the last decade has plant is approved by US authori- being forced to cut ambitious between 775,000 and 825,000 boe C$1bn ($986.73m) in their first Centrica and QPI, the interna- forced Qatar Petroleum to find ties. Jaidah said LNG from Golden output targets. per day by 2015, up from 667,000 acquisition since agreeing in 2011 tional arm of the world’s largest new buyers for billions of dollars Pass on the US Gulf coast could The gas-focused British com- now. He said there would be no to hunt for assets around the LNG exporter, bought do not pro- worth of LNG that it had planned be sold around the Atlantic basin, pany, whose main growth assets output targets more than two world together. duce enough gas to merit building to sell to the US. The import ter- which includes western Europe are in Australia and Brazil, said years ahead in future as the “We are looking at upstream an LNG export terminal. minals built to receive LNG may and the booming LNG consuming the proportion of its production company focuses on value over business in the United States... But ramping up production start exporting US gas to global markets of Latin America. with a profit margin of more than volume. both in oil and gas but particularly from those fields and buying more markets in a few years, increasing REUTERS $50 per barrel of oil equivalent Oil and gas companies have a (boe) would triple over the next history of switching their per- five years, and that its heavy capi- formance measures after failing tal spending budget would peak in to meet existing ones, creating a Protest against US oil pipeline 2015, allowing it to return surplus degree of cynicism among inves- cash to shareholders from then. tors. Earlier this year, BP also Oil majors probed In a keenly-awaited strategy made a virtue of circumstances statement under new manage- that have forced it to rein in over price fixing ment and after a crisis of investor its growth prospects. Other oil BRUSSELS: The European confidence in the final quarter of companies are also moving away Commission yesterday said it 2012, the company said it would from volume measures as meeting carried out surprise inspec- “manage its portfolio more them gets difficult. tions at several major oil compa- actively” in future, partly through “We’re acutely aware of that, nies over possible price fixing in asset sales, and partly by bring- and I know that’s a view that can breach of EU anti-trust rules. ing in partners to ramp up output be taken,” Finlayson said ahead of The Commission did not name more quickly. his presentation to shareholders any of the companies involved but The aim is for 50 percent of its and investors yesterday. “That’s British energy giant BP, Shell and discovered resources to be either why we have been careful to show Norway’s Statoil said that their sold or produced in the next 10 in this presentation exactly how offices had been visited. years. we will deliver that value.” The Commission said officials BG shares were the top gain- Despite its recent problems and “carried out unannounced inspec- ers among European oil and gas a slump in its share price in the tions at the premises of several stocks yesterday, climbing 3.2 final quarter of last year, BG’s companies active in and providing percent to 1,223 pence. shares still trade at a premium services to the crude oil, refined Last year, the energy investors’ to their peers as a multiple of cur- oil products and biofuels sectors. one-time darling shocked share- rent year earnings. “These inspections took place in holders by saying it would miss Analysts put this down to its two EU member states,” a state- output targets. Then, in February, strong track record on finding ment said, adding that one country it had to abandon its goal of pro- new supplies, its exposure to tight in the European Economic Area ducing 1 million barrels of oil LNG markets, and its position in (EEA) — of which Norway is a equivalent a day by 2015, blaming Brazil’s potentially prolific Santos member — was also involved. failed well rejuvenation efforts in basin, where it and a handful of “The Commission has concerns Egypt and a fall in US gas prices other companies were able to that the companies may have col- Environmentalists stage a protest near a fundraising venue of US President Barack Obama in New York City. to uneconomic levels. secure acreage before the gov- luded ... to manipulate the pub- Hundreds marched to protest the building of oil pipelines and called for an end to hydraulic fracking for oil The news came at a tricky time ernment decided to limit future lished prices for a number of oil and gas. at the top of the company as long- development to the state oil firm and biofuel products,’’ it said. AFP serving former chief executive Petrobras. REUTERS WEDNESDAY 15 MAY 2013 18 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS

Indonesia holds rates steady Dana Gas profit Most Gulf bourses boosted by MOL share sale DUBAI: Dana Gas made a net profit of Dh241m ($66m) in the first quarter, with continue bull run $135m raised from selling shares in Hungary's MOL offseting a slide in fuel sales UAE hits fresh multi-year high; Saudi, Egypt slip revenue. The Abu Dhabi-listed com- DUBAI: Markets in the UAE year-to-date. Dubai’s benchmark YESTERDAY’S HIGHLIGHTS pany yesterday said revenue hit new multi-year highs yes- climbed 2.7 percent to 2,255 points QATAR: The benchmark rose 0.4 and gross profit fell in the terday, delaying an expected — its biggest one-day jump since percent to 8,938 points. first three months of 2013, bout of profit-taking as upbeat the opening session of 2013 and its SAUDI ARABIA: The index because of a conservative capi- earnings added fuel to the bull- highest level since October 2009. tal expenditure policy and the declined 0.3 percent to 7,139 ish sentiment, while Saudi The index is moving closer to shutdown of liquefied petro- points. Arabia and Egypt fell. the peak of that year at 2,408 leum gas (LPG) production in In Dubai, banks rallied. Dubai points — a major resistance. BAHRAIN: The measure gained 0.5 the Kurdistan region of Iraq. Islamic Bank (DIB) rose 5.8 per- Abu Dhabi’s measure climbed percent to 1,148 points. Sales of hydrocarbons cent, extending year-to-date gains 1.8 percent to a fresh 54-month DUBAI: The index rose 2.7 percent dropped 20 percent to to 54.7 percent. The bank com- high. The number of shares to 2,255 points. Dh557m, the company said in pleted a share swap acquisition changing hands yesterday — 424.7 ABU DHABI: The index gained 1.8 a statement. of mortgage lender Tamweel in million — was the second-highest percent to 3,481 points. But the one-off sale of which it provided 10 new shares for a session in 2013, aided by a KUWAIT: The index advanced 0.2 around half Dana Gas' stake in the bank for every 18 held in 134 million single trade in Eshraq percent to 7,863 points. in Hungarian oil and gas group Tamweel, it said earlier this week. Properties. OMAN: The index advanced 0.5 MOL in February helped off- “Expectations are strong for Financials lead gainers, with percent to 6,319 points. set lower sales revenue and a 2013 after DIB’s merger with Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank and EGYPT: The index slipped 0.3 per- 3 percent drop in production. Tamweel — it will reduce their Union National Bank rising 5.5 Delays in getting paid for cent to 5,401 points. lending costs and give it the ability and 4 percent respectively. supplies of natural gas to Egypt to be competitive in the mortgage Elsewhere, Oman’s bourse rose sector’s benchmark adding and Kurdistan forced the com- lending segment,” said Marwan 0.5 percent, aided by gains at 0.8 percent. Egypt’s measure pany to restructure its debt Shurrab, vice-president and chief investment firms. Oman National retreated 0.3 percent. Large-cap late last year, after it failed to trader at Gulfmena Investments. Investment Corporation climbed Orascom Construction Industries pay a $920m Islamic bond on “It is also cheap in terms of val- 5.4 percent and Oman Investment fell 1.3 percent to 242.8 Egyptian maturity in October uations compared to Abu Dhabi and Finance Co advanced 4.1 pounds after Dutch-listed par- banks, which have seen a strong percent. ent OCI NV cut the tender offer rally this year.” Qatar’s measure gained 0.4 per- price for a share swap. Turkey pays Air Arabia gained 0.9 per- cent, and Kuwait’s index advanced OCI NV said yesterday it would cent. The budget carrier posted 0.2 percent to a fresh 42-month offer holders of OCI’s Egypt- off IMF debt a 20 percent year-on-year rise peak. In Saudi Arabia, the listed shares the option of swap- in net profit for the first quarter, benchmark slipped 0.3 percent. ping them for OCI NV shares or ANKARA: Turkey has paid boosted by a 22 percent advance Insurance stocks tumbled for a a cash alternative of 255 pounds off all debt owed to the IMF in revenue. The results were posi- second session since the market per share. That is down from the Workers erect an iron reinforcement column at a high rise office building which extended its first loans tive and showed the firm’s growth regulator announced plans to 280 pounds per share offered in under construction in Jakarta yesterday. Indonesia held its key interest more than 50 years ago, and potential in the medium term, cut down on speculative trading January. rate at 5.75 percent for the 15th consecutive month after the economy is now set to contribute to said Reda Gomaa, portfolio man- through stricter rules. Investment firm EFG-Hermes expanded at the slowest pace for more than two years in the first quarter. the Fund’s operations, owing ager at Mashreq in Dubai, adding The insurance sector index gained 3.6 percent and most other to economic growth that gave there was still value in the stock dropped 6.7 percent. shares were also up. Non-Arab a priority to the private sec- despite its early-year rally. Petrochemicals shares helped foreigners were net sellers, bourse tor, Turkish officials said Air Arabia is up 31.7 percent limit losses, with the heavyweight data showed. REUTERS yesterday. Virgin among five bidders “After a long period, Turkey has paid off, cut to zero its debt with the IMF. I hope this for Saudi telecom licences development will be positive for our country,” Prime Minister DUBAI: Five companies have communications services, but Recep Tayyip Erdogan told Dubai’s non-oil trade jumps in Q1 submitted applications for instead lease capacity from con- deputies from his Justice and virtual telecom licences in ventional operators. Development Party (AKP). DUBAI: Dubai’s non-oil trade Dubai Customs said. Non-oil trade customs conference in the coastal Saudi Arabia including Virgin VMMEA, which has opera- The last instalment of $412m jumped 16 percent in the first grew to Dh325.5bn ($88.6bn) in desert city. Developers in Dubai Mobile Middle East & Africa tions in Jordan, South Africa and was paid yesterday to the quarter and recovery in the the first quarter from Dh280bn in are dusting off stalled building (VMMEA). Oman, has signed a preliminary International Monetary Fund emirate’s property sector will the same period last year, the cus- plans, encouraged by an economic VMMEA — part-owned by agreement with former monopoly by the Turkish central bank, help keep the pace up this year toms office said. A more detailed recovery after a 50 percent drop Richard Branson’s Virgin Group STC to use its network, VMMEA bringing to an end a series of despite a plunge in trade with data breakdown was not immedi- in house prices from the 2008 — is up against Dubai-based chief executive Mikkel Vinter told loans extended by the IMF Iran and global economic weak- ately available. peak triggered a series of debt Axiom, plus consortiums headed Reuters in an emailed response to since 1958. ness, the Dubai customs head “The main thing now is that restructurings in state firms. by local companies FastNet and questions. said yesterday. growth in real estate starts pick- Trade expanded 13 percent to Safari and another that includes Bidders were required to “This year up to this quarter, ing up. With real estate develop- Dh1,235bn, after a record 22 per- London-based Lebara, the include such an agreement in UAE’s DNO seeks we reached an approximately 16 ments there are many sectors cent jump in 2011. Communication and Information their application, Vinter said. percent growth in trade,” Ahmed that also start picking up,” he Growth in Dubai’s total non-oil Technology Commission (CITC) STC affiliate Cell C hosts global listing Butti Ahmed, Director General of said on the sidelines of a world trade slowed in 2012 partly due said on its website. VMMEA’s operations in South to a drop in business with CITC will sell three mobile vir- Africa, which was a factor in DUBAI: RAK Petroleum, Iran, as Western sanctions tual network operator (MVNO) choosing STC this time, he said. which owns 42.8 percent of against Tehran’s disputed licences as part of a plan to liber- The other bidders have not Norwegian oil firm DNO nuclear programme took alise the kingdom’s telecom mar- stated with which operators International, said it would toll. ket, with Saudi poised to become they have made preliminary transfer all its assets to a The vast majority of only the second of the six Gulf agreements. newly created company as trade between Iran and Cooperation Council members Zain Saudi and Axiom declined part of a restructuring plan, the Gulf Arab states flows after Oman to allow MVNOs. to comment, while the regulator, and seek an international through Dubai, long a The kingdom has three mobile STC, Mobily and the other bid- bourse listing for the new major commercial hub for operators — Saudi Telecom Co ders did not respond to requests firm’s parent. Tehran, but banks in Dubai (STC), Etihad Etisalat (Mobily) for comment. The company, which is based cut back their Iran-related and Zain Saudi — and each are The CITC has told bidders in the Ras Al Khaimah, part dealings after the US expected to host an MVNO. that it will take up to 12 weeks of the UAE, will transfer its imposed tough sanctions MVNOs do not own the to evaluate their tenders, Vinter assets to a new Dutch company in late 2011. REUTERS networks they use to provide said. REUTERS that will in turn be owned by a new British-based firm as part of a proposal approved by the shareholders, RAK Petroleum said in a statement. It did not name the new com- panies in the statement, which Putin backs plans to run was issued late on Monday. The assets to be transferred include RAK Petroleum’s entire stake in DNO, the company said, vehicles on natural gas adding that it had received an exemption from mandatory MOSCOW: President more gas-fuelled transport, year to service new vehicles, offer rules on the Oslo Stock Vladimir Putin threw his saying Russia cannot not afford while Russia’s top oil producer Exchange. weight behind a drive to fuel to ignore the global trend. Rosneft plans to allocate 60bn more Russian vehicles with According to a resolution roubles to build 1,000 stations, cleaner-burning and cheaper Medvedev signed on Monday, according to Novak. Ankara agrees to natural gas yesterday, saying more than 50 percent of buses “In the whole world today the economic and environ- in major Russian cities will be there are 17 million cars using oil exploration mental benefits were clear. switched to run on natural gas. gas fuel, while in Russia there A transition to using gas as China last year had 1.48 mil- are 103,000 vehicles... the gas- ANKARA: Turkey has a transportation fuel would lion vehicles driving on natu- powered transportation boom agreed with the Kurdistan reduce emissions in Russia — ral gas, up 48 percent on 2011 is only just beginning,” he said. Regional Government (KRG) the world’s fourth biggest emit- thanks to a government ini- However, Russia’s shift to and US oil giant ExxonMobil ter of greenhouse gases - by two tiative to encourage use of the using the cleaner fuel has not on oil exploration in northern to three times, Putin said. cheaper alternative to gasoline been without hiccups. Iraq, Turkish Prime Minister That would also boost the and diesel. On Thursday, as Russian’s Tayyip Recep Erdogan said fortunes of state energy giant Russian Energy Minister celebrated Victory Day to mark yesterday. Gazprom whose net profit fell Alexander Novak said there the end of World War II, an “This is a step with the 10 percent in 2012 due to weak remained significant challenges empty gas-powered bus blew KRG on exploration work,” gas prices and flagging demand to wide-spread, gas-powered up in north-west Moscow after Erdogan told reporters at from austerity-ravaged Europe. transport in Russia including one of its cylinders exploded, Ankara airport before head- “Gas is cheaper than gaso- no regulatory framework and state news agency RIA Novosti ing to the United States for an line or diesel fuel, besides it a lack of refuelling infrastruc- reported. official visit. He is due to meet reduces emissions,” Putin said ture, with only 200 stations in Russia recently lost its posi- US President Barack Obama at a meeting. the country. The Russian gov- tion as the world’s top gas tomorrow. “We will develop our “Twenty percent of (global) ernment spent 3.5bn roubles producer, falling behind the steps after this visit,” Erdogan natural gas is concentrated in ($112m) on gas-powered buses US because of the shale gas said, referring to the plans for Russia and this is a clear com- in 2012, he said at the meeting production boom which trans- northern Iraq, without specify- petitive advantage,” he added. with Putin. Gazprom plans to formed the global supply land- ing what the agreement would Prime Minister Dimitry invest 1bn roubles ($31.92m) scape and put pressure on once involve. REUTERS Medvedev has also called for and build 17 gas stations this sky-high prices. REUTERS WEDNESDAY 15 MAY 2013 BUSINESS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 19 US shale oil boom leaves Opec sidelined North America sending ripples throughout the world with supply shock, says IEA executive director

LONDON: Rising US shale oil peak of $147 in 2008. The IEA said demand, with output fluctuating capacity growth,” the IEA said. refining, trade or storage and supply growth as well as demand production will help meet most it expected global demand to rise around the current levels of 30 “Downward adjustments across transportation, the fast rise of growth, bringing refining mar- of the world’s new oil demand in 8 percent on aggregate between million bpd for the next five years. the (Opec) group are partly offset emerging market and developing gins under pressure. Higher- the next five years, even if the 2012 and 2018 to reach 96.7 mil- The agency cut its estimate of by substantially stronger growth economies is striking, it said. cost refineries will face stronger global economy picks up steam, lion barrels per day (bpd) based the demand for Opec crude in in Saudi capacity than previ- These economies are projected competition. leaving little room for Opec on a fairly optimistic assumption 2017 to 29.99 million bpd, down by ously expected, reflecting newly to overtake advanced economies “European refineries are at to lift output without risking by the International Monetary 1.22 million bpd from its previous announced development projects,” in oil product consumption from particularly high risk of closure lower prices, the West’s energy Fund of 3 to 4.5 percent global report six months ago. it added. the second quarter of 2013. This over the forecast period,” the IEA agency said. economic growth a year during It said Opec’s spare capac- Iran’s sustainable crude pro- lead will widen from 49 percent said. The IEA added that another The prediction by the the period. ity will rise by over a quarter to duction capacity is likely to fall of global demand in 2012 to more consequence of the surge in US International Energy Agency That incremental demand will reach 6.4 million bpd or 6.6 per- by as much as 1 million bpd to 2.38 than 54 percent by 2018. production was a shift in natural (IEA) came in its closely watched be met mainly by non-Opec pro- cent of global demand, giving an million bpd by 2018, the lowest in The IEA said that beyond the gas pricing, which would chal- semi-annual report, which analy- duction, which will rise by more additional cushion to potential many decades, due to Western well known story of growth in lenging the conventional wisdom ses mid-term global oil supply and than 10 percent between 2012 supply shocks, the report said. sanctions, the IEA said. Brazil, China, Russia, India, Saudi that products produced from oil demand trends. and 2018 to 59.31 million bpd, the The adoption of US shale tech- The IEA said the balance of glo- Arabia and South Africa, many will continue to dominate the “North America has set off a IEA said, increasing its estimate nology could help Russia and bal supply growth, until recently African nations were also on the market for transport fuels. supply shock that is sending rip- of non-Opec supply in 2017 by 1 China boost production from evenly split between Opec and rise on the global oil consumption “Cheap and abundant natural ples throughout the world,” IEA million bpd versus its previous unconventional reserves, but new non-Opec, was tilting towards map. gas has already facilitated the Executive Director Maria van der report in October 2012. projects may slow in other areas. the latter. The IEA also predicted shifts transition of the US economy Hoeven said yesterday. The US will overtake Russia “Several members of the “North America thus increases in the global refining industry towards broader use of the fuel,” “The good news is that this is as the world’s largest non-Opec (Opec) producer group face new its share of supply growth both as countries such as India and the agency said. Natural gas will helping to ease a market that was producer as early as 2015, the IEA hurdles, notably in North and within the non-Opec group and Saudi Arabia build new refining increase its share of road trans- relatively tight for several years,” said. That may leave Opec, which sub-Saharan Africa. The regional more globally,” it added. capacity. port fuels to 2.5 percent in 2018 she added. Oil yesterday traded had been long seen as the last fallout from the ‘Arab Spring’ is In every other aspect of the The expansion of global refining from 1.4 percent in 2010, it fore- near $103 a barrel, well below its resort for the world to meet rising taking a toll on investment and supply chain, be it demand, capacity will outpace upstream cast. REUTERS

France gets support for EU-US trade talks

BRUSSELS/PARIS: France Aurelie Filippetti has convinced a Transatlantic free trade pact industry, many French are avid has secured backing from other 13 EU counterparts to sign a letter by June, embracing half of world watchers of Hollywood movies. EU member states for the exclu- expressing concern that the pow- economic output and a third of all British Prime Minister David sion of the movie and televi- erful US movie business in par- trade. A deal could add 0.5 per- Cameron said in Washington on sion industries from a proposed ticular could drown out European cent to the EU economy and 0.4 Monday that the talks on the free-trade pact between Europe culture. percent to the US economy by proposed pact should cover eve- and the US that it fears could “The European position to 2027, according to the European rything, even “difficult” issues. threaten European culture. exclude audiovisual services from Commission. Nevertheless, French Trade France, which is considering such negotiations must be clearly EU Trade Commissioner Karel Minister Nicole Bricq says other a tax on technology giants Apple expressed from the outset,” said De Gucht has said the “cultural EU states are rallying to the and Google to finance cultural her letter to the culture minister exception” is not up for negotiation French position. projects, has long defended a “cul- of Ireland, which holds the six- and that member states would still “Little by little, we are being tural exception” in trade affairs month rotating presidency of the be able to subsidise the industry joined by other countries,” she told to protect European arts from European Union. Some EU mem- and set quotas. a news conference yesterday. “It Hollywood-driven market forces. ber states believe ringfencing cul- However, he has argued that is hard to imagine that Europe’s Paris threatened in April to ture could prompt reciprocal US the audiovisual sector should be second largest economy would not block the start of the EU-US action, weakening any trade deal included in the talks so that EU get this mandate.” Ireland aims to negotiations on the deal unless the and its power to create growth businesses could benefit from secure agreement on a common audio-visual industry is excluded and jobs. future developments, such as in EU negotiating stance at a meet- from the talks. The US and the European digital media. Despite France’s ing of trade ministers set for June French Culture Minister Union aim to start negotiating defence of its own entertainment 14. REUTERS OECD: Global economies on the mend

PARIS: Global economies are on the mend, but growth is likely Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard watches as her Treasurer Wayne Swan to remain below trend in India, delivers his budget speech to the House of Representatives in Canberra the OECD said yesterday. yesterday. Looking at major global econo- mies, an OECD statement said that “growth is returning to trend” in China, while in the US the OECD’s composite leading indicator (CLI) “continues to point Australia unveils to economic growth firming.” In the 17-nation eurozone, the CLI indicated “a gain in momen- tum,” although no detailed growth $43bn austerity forecasts were issued. The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development encouraged Portugal meanwhile to pursue “ambitious and courageous drive in budget reforms to restore the sustain- ability of public finances, reduce CANBERRA: Australian appears on track for a landslide external imbalances, and put its Treasurer Wayne Swan made defeat. economy back on a path of strong, a values pitch to voters yester- “We haven’t approached the jobs-rich growth.” day as he unveiled an A$43bn budget from the perspective of The OECD’s leading indica- ($43bn) austerity drive in a opinion polls, we’ve approached tors are mainly designed to point budget without election-year it from the perspective of doing to turning points in economic trimmings. what is right for the nation,” he activity. “In Japan, it indicates Swan, delivering his final told reporters. that growth should remain above budget before his Labor party He described Labour’s spend- trend,” the OECD said, while in seeks a third term on September ing priorities as “some of the most Germany, the biggest European 14, emphasised big-ticket reforms important reforms our country economy, growth was tipped to to education and disability care will undertake in a generation”. return to its trend rate. and argued for “consistency” “There is something big in One less favourable outlook at the helm as he revealed an this for Australia and there’s was issued for India, where the A$18bn deficit for 2013/14. something big in this for every CLI “continues to indicate growth A major fall in revenues also Australian family,” Swan said. below trend.” In Italy, the third saw growth forecasts slashed for To find A$25bn to fund initia- biggest eurozone economy, the 2013/14 from 3 percent to 2.75 tives in education and disability, data indicated a positive change percent and unemployment scaled Labour launched an A$43bn sav- in momentum. up from 5.5 to 5.75 percent. ings drive over five years, includ- A separate statement said: A surplus initially due this ing deferral of A$1.9bn in foreign “Despite the hardships brought year is now set for 2016/17 due to aid and tax rises worth A$11.6bn. about by the crisis, Portugal is now economic turbulence, including a It also scrapped or delayed a faced with a unique opportunity fall in commodities prices due to number of family benefits includ- to modernise its economy, as well China’s slowdown and the rising ing a popular “baby bonus” incen- as building a fairer, more cohe- Australian dollar. tive payment for having children. sive society and a more efficient, Despite this, ratings agency Swan acknowledged there dynamic public administration.” Standard & Poor’s affirmed would be “some people who will be The OECD noted that the Australia’s AAA rating with a unhappy about this decision” but country has “recorded one of the stable outlook, saying “the gov- said the government had decided sharpest reductions in fiscal and ernment continues to demon- others areas needed the funds. external imbalances in the OECD strate a commitment to prudent Shadow treasurer Joe Hockey since 2009.” fiscal policy”. called the budget “debt, chaos and That has come at a cost how- Swan rejected suggestions he spin” and said he did not believe ever, with unemployment hitting was taking a gamble by asking the figures on the deficit. a record 17.7 percent in the first Australians to put the national “I think the deficit challenge quarter of 2013 amid widespread interest before self-interest in is substantially larger,” he said. public discontent with political an election year, when Labour AFP leadership in Lisbon. AFP WEDNESDAY 15 MAY 2013 20 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS Strauss-Kahn opens bank in South Sudan EADS profits JUBA, South Sudan: Former IMF chief Dominique Strauss- Kahn opened a bank in South Sudan yesterday, a rare public return to the financial world soar on rising since a dramatic fall from grace after a sex scandal two years ago. “I believe that a country like South Sudan deserves some spe- cial attention,” he told reporters Airbus orders at the airport after his arrival on Monday, saying he will open a new bank, named as the National Gulf carriers placing large orders Credit Bank (NCB), as well as assess the investment opportuni- PARIS: European aerospace programme for its future long- ties in the impoverished country. giant EADS reported a near haul A350 aircraft, due to be “It is a new country and still doubling of first-quarter net delivered at the end of 2014, with a lot of economic and politi- profit yesterday, boosted by remained “very ambitious” cal problems....it wants to have a strong performance by its but that there had been no the full opportunity for devel- main subsidiary Airbus which announcement of delays since opment and business,” Strauss- makes airliners. the middle of 2012. Kahn said at the start of a Quarterly profits soared by 91 The Eurocopter division, mak- two-day visit. percent from the level 12 months ing helicopters, which had per- Little is known about the NCB ago to ¤241m ($316m) on strong formed strongly last year, was hit bank, although officials said it is demand for commercial aircraft. by technical problems affecting a Swiss-backed private venture Earnings before interest, tax, its Super Puma model, resulting launched in cooperation with depreciation and amortisation in a restriction on flying. South Sudanese partners. jumped by 79.0 percent to 596 Sales fell by 13 percent and Straus-Kahn was greeted at million euros, despite exceptional operating profit by 69 percent. the airport by South Sudan’s charges of 145 million euros in Orders fell by 36 percent in the Minister of Commerce Garang the Airbus division which is quarter on a 12-month compar- Diing. dealing with micro cracks in the ison. EADS said that the per- “This visit is very important wings of its superjumbo aircraft. formance of Eurocopter should to us... especially in relation to Former International Monetary Fund chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn with South Sudan's Central Bank Governor The price of shares in the recover during this year because investment attraction to South Kornelio Mayik during the opening of National Credit Bank in the capital Juba yesterday. group rose by 1.58 percent to the company had identified the Sudan,” Diing said. ¤41.85 in mid-morning trading. cause of the technical problems. “He wants to see how South The overall CAC 40 index on the Orders by the space division Sudan is prospering in terms of accused him of sexual assault in a financial settlement. Oil-rich Sudan closed down the oil pro- French market was showing a Astrium fell by 30 percent on a peace, stability, democracy and May 2011. but grossly under-developed duction that accounted for 98 fall of 0.41 percent. 12-month comparison but sales economic performance,” Diing In August 2011, prosecutors South Sudan is the world’s young- percent of government revenue At brokers Barclays Bourse, rose by 3 percent. added. dropped criminal charges, declar- est country, after splitting from last year in a furious dispute with portfolio manager Renaud Against a background of cuts The one-time French presi- ing that Diallo was not a credible former civil war foes north Sudan Sudan, only resuming production Murail commented: “Overall, the in defence budgets in the West, dential hopeful and former head witness. in July 2011, following an over- last month. results do not contain any bad the defence arm Cassidian raised of the International Monetary Strauss-Kahn quickly returned whelming vote for independence Rebellion, ethnic conflict and surprises. The trend is favour- sales by 2 percent and its operat- Fund, Strauss-Kahn resigned to France even though the maid six months earlier. hunger affect large parts of the able in terms of activity and the ing profit by 40 percent. from his post after New York maintained a civil suit, later set- Development since independ- country, left in ruins by nearly group is confirming the good EADS stood by its targets for hotel maid Nafissatou Diallo tled after Strauss-Kahn agreed ence has been stalled after South five decades of civil war. AFP announcements which the mar- the full year, expecting EBIT ket was expecting.” earnings before non-recurrent He said that in addition “the items to be ¤3.5bn in 2013 from group is confirming its targets ¤3bn in 2012. with once again a good number Deliveries of Airbus aircraft of orders or rumours of orders should continue to increase to Petrobas raises $11bn in mega investment drive which are in the air, particularly 600-610 commercial aircraft. from companies in the Gulf.” The group held to a target of The European Aeronautic 700 orders in the year, which RIO DE JANEIRO: Brazilian 2012-2016 to develop oil reserves The fixed rates varied from money at relatively low interest Defence and Space Company said appeared modest since com- oil group Petrobas yesterday off Brazil’s shoreline. This year 2.14 percent at three years to rates. Petrobas had considered a that group orders for the first mercial director John Leahy is said that it had raised $11bn alone, Petrobas intends to borrow 5.76 percent at 30 years, Petrobas big sale of assets to raise funds for three months rose to ¤49.9bn counting on 750 for the year on the corporate bond market, about $20bn, the group’s finance said. Market sources cited by its projects, but demand for such compared to ¤12bn during the and had booked 493 by the end marking a record high amount director said last month. Dow Jones Newswires said that assets was low and so it turned same period last year. of April. EADS said it expected for such an issue in an emerging The latest issue was made demand was extremely strong, to the corporate bond market Orders for Airbus’ commer- “modest” growth for the year, economy. in dollars and in six slices. The totalling more than $40bn. instead. cial aircraft showed the highest mainly because of a slowing of The company, controlled by bonds issued have four redemp- The company took advantage Meanwhile, the Brazilian gov- jump, leaping 496 percent. orders for its superjumbo air- the Brazilian state, is carrying a tion dates, in three, five, 10 and of strong conditions on the global ernment has put out to tender the Sales for the first three months liner, the A380, which has been heavy amount of debt, but it will 30 years’ time. They were issued bond markets in general where rights to prospect for oil on new of the year were up 9 percent at held back by a programme to use the money to help finance at fixed and at variable interest funds are plentiful, enabling blocs off the northeast coast. ¤12.4bn, the group added. deal with micro cracks in some investment of $237bn from rates. states and businesses to raise AFP EADS noted that the of the wing components. AFP

QATARI MARKET Bond Coupon Maturity Currency Mid-Price Yield Moody’s S&P EU welcomes Qatar Govt 5.15% 4/9/2014 USD 104.00 0.66 % Aa2 AA Visa card move Shares in Indian drug-maker Qatar Govt 3.125% 1/20/2017 USD 106.06 1.43 % Aa2 AA Qatar Govt 6.55% 4/9/2019 USD 124.75 2.07 % Aa2 AA to cut fees Qatar Govt 5.25% 1/20/2020 USD 117.75 2.36 % Aa2 AA Qatar Govt 4.5% 1/20/2022 USD 113.00 2.80 % Aa2 AA BRUSSELS: Credit-card climb as US legal battle ends Qatar Govt 9.75% 6/15/2030 USD 174.00 3.81 % Aa2 AA giant Visa has agreed to cut Qatar Govt 6.4% 1/20/2040 USD 134.50 4.23 % Aa2 AA some of its inter-bank fees, MUMBAI: Shares in Ranbaxy New Delhi-based Ranbaxy In 2008 the FDA had banned Qatar Govt 5.75% 1/20/2042 USD 124.50 4.26 % Aa2 AA by up to 60 percent, to meet climbed yesterday after US Laboratories pleaded guilty to more than 30 drugs manufac- EU anti-trust concerns, the authorities slapped a $500m fine seven counts of felony after it dis- tured at Ranbaxy’s plants in India Qatari Diar 3.5% 7/21/2015 USD 105.25 1.06 % Aa2 AA European Commission said on India’s biggest drug-maker tributed several India-produced due to concerns about the produc- Qatari Diar 5% 7/21/2020 USD 114.75 2.73 % Aa2 AA yesterday. to settle a lengthy lawsuit over adulterated generic drugs in the tion process. Ranbaxy’s financial Comqat 5% 11/18/2014 USD 105.50 1.29 % A1 A- EU Competition the sale of adulterated drugs in US in 2005 and 2006. results will not be affected by the Comqat 3.375% 4/11/2017 USD 104.38 2.20 % A1 A- Commissioner Joaquin the US. They were all made in a facility fine announced late Monday as QIB 3.856% 10/7/2015 USD 104.69 1.85 % NR NR Almunia said he welcomed The case — the largest-ever near Chandigarh city in northern the company set aside $500m QNB 3.125% 11/16/2015 USD 104.00 1.49 % Aa3 A+ Visa Europe’s plan to cut its US drug safety settlement with India, which US Food and Drug in December 2011 to cover costs QNB 3.375% 2/22/2017 USD 104.63 2.09 % Aa3 A+ fees to 0.3 percent of the value a generic manufacturer — ended Administration inspectors cited from the dispute, analysts noted. of the transaction, represent- eight years of criminal and civil for poor record keeping and inad- Ranbaxy has grown by selling Doha Bank 3.5% 3/14/2017 USD 104.50 2.27 % A2 A- ing a reduction of about 40 to investigations into the company, equate testing for the stability of cheap copies of branded drugs Qtel 3.375% 10/14/2016 USD 106.25 1.49 % A2 A /*- 60 percent. which is now majority-owned by the drugs over time. that have gone off-patent, and Qtel 7.875% 6/10/2019 USD 130.50 2.44 % A2 A /*- The company also agreed to Japan’s Daiichi Sankyo. The company also admitted through challenges to patents Qtel 4.75% 2/16/2021 USD 111.75 3.04 % A2 A /*- “reform its rules to facilitate After opening down over four making false and fraudulent owned by Western companies. Qtel 5% 10/19/2025 USD 110.25 3.95 % A2 A /*- cross-border competition,” a percent, Ranbaxy shares closed statements to the FDA in 2006- But US authorities alleged the Rasgas 5.5% 9/30/2014 USD 105.75 1.25 % Aa3 A statement said. up 3.63 percent at 455.5 rupees as 2007 on stability tests conducted firm took short cuts along the Rasgas 5.832% 9/30/2016 USD 108.25 3.23 % Aa3 A The Commission will can- analysts said the decision would on several other export drugs. way, falsifying data, failing to pre- Rasgas 5.298% 9/30/2020 USD 111.38 3.53 % Aa3 A vass market opinion on the allow the firm to focus on the Ranbaxy agreed to pay a crimi- vent contamination of medicines, proposals and “may then future. nal fine and forfeiture of $150m keeping inadequate records and SOVEREIGNS decide to make them legally “The image destruction has and another $350m to settle civil not making sure drugs remained Bond PDA* Maturity Currency Mid-Price Yield Moody’s S&P binding on Visa Europe.” already happened, now it can charges, according to a statement potent until their expiry. Abu Dhabi Govt 5.5% 4/8/2014 USD 104.50 0.44 % Aa2 AA Almunia said it was “excel- take steps to repair the damage. from the US Justice Department. After the US decision, Ranbaxy Abu Dhabi Govt 6.75% 4/8/2019 USD 127.25 1.85 % Aa2 AA lent news that Visa decided The resolution enables Ranbaxy “This decision brings finality chief executive Arun Sawhney to submit these commitment to continue with business,” said to the issue. In that sense it’s... said in a statement the company Dubai Govt 6.7% 10/5/2015 USD 110.25 2.27 % NR NR proposals in response to our Daljeet S. Kohli, head of research positive,” said Ajay Bodke, head of was “disappointed by the conduct Dubai Govt 4.9% 5/2/2017 USD 107.25 2.95 % NR NR objections. AFP with the IndiaNivesh brokerage. investment strategy at Mumbai’s of the past that led to this inves- Dubai Govt 7.75% 10/5/2020 USD 125.75 3.73 % NR NR The US subsidiary of Prabhudas Lilladher brokerage. tigation”. AFP Dubai Govt 6.45% 5/2/2022 USD 118.25 4.01 % NR NR Qatar Govt 4% 1/20/2015 USD 104.94 1.03 % Aa2 AA Bahrain Govt 6.273% 11/22/2018 USD 116.75 2.96 % NR BBB Bahrain Govt 5.5% 3/31/2020 USD 110.63 3.73 % NR BBB Sri Lanka refinery faces closure Egypt Govt 5.75% 4/29/2020 USD 93.00 7.04 % Caa1 CCC+ Morocco Govt 4.5% 10/5/2020 EUR 107.13 3.40 % NR BBB- over supply delay, maintenance *Periodic Distribution Amount • Bullion - Mumbai IMPORTANT NOTE: Gold (10 gm) Standard Rs. 27170 COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s sole Corporation was expected to Published by HSBC Bank Middle East Limited, P O Box 57, Doha, Qatar which Silver (1 kg) Rs. 45210 is licensed and regulated by Qatar Central Bank and Jersey Financial Services refinery faces temporary clo- receive a crude parcel of 1 million • Indian Rupees QR1 = 14.90 Commission. Information quoted is from publicly available sources or proprietary sure this week for up to four barrels on Saturday, Sri Lanka’s data and subject to change. HSBC accepts no liability for any loss or damage arising • Sensex days over a delayed crude oil petroleum resource minister out of the use of all or part of this material. This information is general and does not BSE 19722.29 delivery that coincides with Anura Priyadarsha Yapa said. take into account individual circumstances, objectives or needs. The price of bonds NSE 5995.40 can and does fluctuate. The secondary market for bonds may not provide significant plans for routine maintenance, The supplier missed the origi- liquidity or may trade based on prevailing market conditions. Past performance is not • Short-term investment plan from LIC International upto 6.4 percent return officials said yesterday. nal delivery date because of a a reliable indicator of future performance. You should consider these matters and p.a. (in dollar) The decades-old 50,000 barrels- problem with the vessel, the min- consult your financial advisor prior to making any investment decisions. • Housing loan from HDFC LTD per-day oil (bpd) refinery is con- ister said. • Mutual Fund: Buy & Sell: SBI MF, HDFC MF, UTI MF, Birla Sun Life MF, figured to run on Iranian crude “Later they confirmed they Tata MF, Reliance MF etc. and has been scrambling to fill a would deliver on the 16th,” the • Advise on Indian Income Tax matters for NRIs. shortfall after supplies were hit minister added. “If the ship Contact: Investec, Tel: 44325060/44365060 email: [email protected] by Western sanctions. doesn’t arrive by May 16, we can’t State-run Ceylon Petroleum produce.” REUTERS WEDNESDAY 15 MAY 2013 BUSINESS VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 21

Malta most likely G8 must fight poverty by won’t follow eliminating tax havens BY RICHARD MILLER for tax avoiders, and protection for illegal assets, unless governments themselves end Cyprus into crisis tax evaders, denying developing economies the secrecy and abusive tax regimes that e have brought yet more public revenues needed for hospitals, schools, tax havens offer. The countries represented news about the wide- clean water and functioning roads. The fig- at June’s G8 have a unique combination of BY MARTIN SANTA spread use of tax havens ures are staggering. economic and political weight, responsibility by some of the world’s According to the Organisation of and jurisdiction over the problem. The UK yprus and Malta have a lot in common: Mediterranean largest multinationals Economic Co-operation and Development, alone is responsible for one in five of the islands enjoying 10 months of sunshine a year, they joined Woperating in developing countries. developing countries lose three times more world’s tax havens, more than any other sin- the European Union in 2004, use the euro and have bank- From ActionAid’s own investigations we money to tax havens each year than they gle country in the world. Yet while the UK Cing sectors that dwarf their economies. know that these tax havens can all too often receive in aid. The statistics cannot, of and other wealthy countries have recently There are so many similarities that some investors have won- provide vehicles for tax avoidance that hits course, show the tax impact of each tax begun to push their tax havens to disclose dered whether Malta might follow Cyprus in needing a bailout the world’s poorest hardest. haven company. Some may indeed have real the financial assets that their taxpayers hold to survive the region’s economic crisis. In the case of just one FTSE100 multina- business, and not simply be avoiding taxes offshore, these deals as yet leave developing But Malta’s risk profile is far different from that of Cyprus, tional we recently investigated — Associated in places where real business is done. countries out in the cold. which received a 10-billion-euro aid package last month aimed British Foods, maker of Ryvita and Silver But this is precisely the point: Corporate The G8 can and must commit to ending at preventing its collapse and a possible exit from the euro zone. Spoon sugar — we found the company had reporting fails to show the transactions and the anonymous ownership of tax haven On the basis of banking risk and its economy, it seems unlikely used tax haven conduit companies to legally tax bills of multinationals’ operations in companies and trusts, and making tax that it will be the next euro member — after Cyprus, Ireland, avoid enough Zambian tax to put 48,000 many of these jurisdictions. havens disclose the information that tax Greece, Portugal and Spain — to need rescuing. children in school. And these same jurisdictions often deny authorities around the world desperately “The business model of the financial sector in Malta is not as Zambia is a nation where almost half of this information to under-resourced tax need. To fix the biggest part of this prob- shady and controversial as it was in Cyprus,” said Carsten Brzeski, children fail to complete education. authorities in the world’s poorest countries lem the information it generates must be economist with ING bank in Brussels. “The picture is also dif- Tax haven secrecy can also be used to too. available for all countries — including the ferent at the macro level... Malta should be off the screens for deflect scrutiny from a range of unaccount- Tax haven structures may be nearly uni- poorest — from day one. quite some time.” able transactions in developing nations. versal, but they are not a fact of nature in When the UK government convenes the The European Commission expects growth on the small island Kofi Annan’s Africa Progress Panel last modern business. Financial services firm leaders of the world’s wealthiest countries economy of just 450,000 people to pick up this year and next, week highlighted mining deals involving Hargreaves Lansdown and mining com- at the G8 summit this June, it has an oppor- driven by rising domestic demand and increased net exports. two FTSE100 multinationals, carried out pany Fresnillo, for instance, have no tax tunity, an interest and a duty to do some- The unemployment rate, at 6.4 percent, is around half that of through companies in the British Virgin haven subsidiaries at all, despite operating thing extraordinary: To tackle one of the the euro zone, debt as a proportion of GDP is 72 percent, below Islands, Panama and Gibraltar, which the in sectors that are no strangers to “off- biggest hidden obstacles in the fight against the euro zone average, and the deficit is in check. All of Cyprus’s panel claims have deprived the Democratic shore”. Others are making efforts at least poverty by putting an end to tax havens. pre-crisis numbers were far less rosy. Republic of Congo of an estimated $1.36bn to disclose their tax structures around the With David Cameron, George Osborne, Nevertheless, Malta’s banking sector is eight times larger than — almost twice the country’s education and world: when ActionAid put questions about François Hollande, Angela Merkel, other its GDP, about the same as it was in Cyprus before the rescue. health budgets combined. their tax haven companies to all FTSE100 world leaders and ordinary taxpayers call- This leaves the economy exposed to financial shocks. From near-deserted Caribbean islands companies, 15 responded with significant ing for change, this is a once in a lifetime But in Cyprus the banking sector was dominated by two domes- to major financial centres, tax havens offer extra details. opportunity. None of us — from the richest tic banks, both of which relied heavily on foreign deposits, many a harbour for wealth and profits siphoned Yet overall there is little incentive not to the poorest countries — can afford for from Russia, and invested those deposits in government bonds from around the world. to place profits and assets in tax haven the G8 to miss it. abroad, particularly in Greece. Tax havens provide the legal machinery companies, or to disclose these profits and THE GUARDIAN In Malta, the bulk of banking-sector assets belong to subsidiar- ies of foreign banks which would be responsible for bailing them out in case of trouble. The assets of domestic Maltese banks, which would not be allowed to fail because the economy would collapse, add up to around 200 percent of GDP. That is a large but not terrifying amount and the ratio in Cyprus’s was twice as high. Maltese domestic banks are highly capitalised, profitable and liquid. What is more, they fund themselves largely from the domestic retail deposit market, lend locally and hold securities issued in Malta, rather than having taken on board risky assets such as Greek government bonds. “I want to be very clear, there is no banking sector in the European Union that is comparable to the Cypriot one. Malta, Ireland, Luxembourg, they are not comparable to Cyprus,” European Central Bank Executive Board member Joerg Asmussen told a European Parliament committee last week. “One has to look deeper at the structure of the assets and liabili- ties of the banking sector.” The IMF was equally reassured, saying in a report in May 2012: “The sensitivity of the Maltese banking sector to sovereign risk events in Europe is low given very low direct exposures to vulnerable countries, as well as domestic banks’ reliance on a traditional retail deposit-based banking model.” Some analysts say Malta is vulnerable to a sudden dip in con- fidence that could prompt investors to withdraw deposits, some- thing that the hit on Cypriot bank customers could easily have triggered. “The key risk... is that its international offshore investors begin to relocate in light of the policy uncertainty created by the Cypriot bail-in,” Myles Bradshaw, a portfolio manager at PIMCO, said. “This would have significant negative economic effects that could in turn create a problem with domestic banks’ asset quality. Together with the deep recession, this could force Malta to seek external assistance.” In a recent assessment, the European Commission also expressed some macroeconomic concerns, noting Malta’s rela- tively high level of private debt, notably home mortgages. But it said that despite some overvaluation and possible over- supply, there was no immediate risk of a property market crash. REUTERS How will Fed line up in battle over bank capital?

BY SIMON JOHNSON and how it will be implemented regulators and big-bank repre- companies have very little such a greater degree of protection price the risk inherent in lending in the US. sentatives. And the main mecha- bail- in capacity. under the FDIC’s plan, with a big to holding companies. If you don’t he skirmishing is almost There are interesting questions nism that they propose is the The Fed now needs to rule on chunk of that protection suppos- see a large spread between loans to over, the main armies here, including what the Fed will resolution powers granted to the how much bail-in-able capital edly provided by creditors to the the operating subsidiary and loans almost assembled. Ahead decide regarding the so-called FDIC under Title II of the Dodd- there must be in this form. And it holding company. to the holding company, then noth- Tis a great battle over the SIFI surcharge. Frank Act. also needs to set rules about who Remember the debts that can ing has happened. future of our financial system that For the most part, however, the The FDIC’s proposed approach holds the relevant types of debt. pile up at those subsidiaries, par- For this policy to work, the Fed could have more profound con- Basel-related changes are mean- calls for losses in any part of a “Loss-absorbing debt” cannot be ticularly when risk management has to require the price of debt sequences than the Dodd-Frank ingless. The Basel deal is, at its financial holding company to be held by other leveraged institu- is weak. Crazy loans and losses in to megabank holding companies legislation of 2010. core, about “risk-weighted capi- absorbed by the holding company. tions or by any institution prone 2007-08 represent the nightmare to increase. Everything else is an The battleground is the hearts tal,” and this is the wrong way to Absorption here is a polite term to a run. In this case, a company- scenario on a grand scale, but not illusion. Some Fed board members and minds of the seven people think about banks’ balance sheets. for wiping out the equity and con- specific event can easily become necessarily the worst that could have shown some appreciation who make up the board of gov- As experts such as Tom Hoenig, verting debt into equity. systemic panic. happen. Lenders to the holding for this point, at least in private ernors of the Federal Reserve the vice chairman of the Federal Ideally, bank holding companies If the Fed waits even six company should be very sceptical conversations. System. The critical contest will Deposit Insurance Corporation, would be funded with a lot more months, it will destroy any chance and deeply scared. The Fed will draw serious polit- be about bank capital and how and Morris Goldstein, a longtime equity. But the Fed has already of the FDIC establishing cred- Global megabanks are pro- ical support if it moves to increase large financial institutions should International Monetary Fund signalled that it will wimp out on ibility for its Title II resolution foundly complex, and intention- bail-in-able capital into the range fund themselves. The fog of war official argue, all that we really this issue. mechanism. People in the credit ally so. Investors and regulators of 20 percent to 30 percent of has masked the terrain, so that know about risk weights is that, The bank lobbyists are cheer- markets are highly sceptical that don’t know what risks are being total assets for large-bank hold- even well-informed bank lobbyists in every crisis, they are com- ing. After all, big banks like to the FDIC will be able to imple- taken. Board members also are ing companies. The central bank don’t realise they have wandered pletely wrong. borrow heavily, increasing the ment this effectively. usually in the dark. Whether top will draw great ire if it sides with into a potentially disadvantageous Management is free to use risk upside for executives but also The big banks are preparing management understands what the megabanks, again. position. weights for internal purposes, but creating more downside for the to complain that this bail-in- is happening is an open question: The Fed has to decide. Should It remains to be seen whether capital regulation needs to be rest of us. able capital is “expensive” and Chief Executive Officer Jamie it make Title II resolution mean- the Fed can make the most of this about the true ability to absorb But here is the rub. The FDIC’s therefore should be set at a low Dimon is adamant that he had ingful and allow a real chance of real opportunity for reform. Too losses relative to total assets. approach to resolution only level. But the precise point is that no real knowledge of JPMorgan’s reducing the risks posed by the many governors still seem encum- Regulators should focus on this remotely makes sense if there is creditors should lend to holding Whale positions, which eventually biggest financial institutions? Or bered by a flawed mental model of measure and its implications for enough “bail-in-able capital” at companies only at a high rate of had a notional value in the tril- should it shy away from a decisive how megabanks work. what happens when a financial the holding company. interest, reflecting the downside lions of dollars. victory? The headlines continue to focus company faces failure. According to reasonable protection given to, among others, Megabanks say they want to end On current form, the Fed seems on the international agreement “We must end too big to fail” independent estimates, some creditors who lend to the oper- “too big to fail.” This statement will likely to fail us, again. regarding capital requirements is the refrain now heard from of our largest financial holding ating subsidiaries. The latter get only be credible if investors see and WP-BLOOMBERG WEDNESDAY 15 MAY 2013 22 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MARKET

QE Indices Summary QE Index 8,938.10 0.43 % WORLD STOCK INDICES GOLD & SILVER EXCHANGE QE Total Return Index 12,770.5 0.43 % QE Al Rayan Islamic Index 2,715.82 0.45 % RATE QE All Share Index 2,280.11 0.34 % INDEX Day’s Close Pt Chg % Chg Year High Year Low QE All Share Banks & Financial 2,117.53 0.60 % GOLD Buying Selling Services All Ordinaries 5202.498 7.706 0.15 5223.9 4664.6 QE All Share Consumer Goods & 5,500.45 0.40 % QR167.3730 US$ ...... QR 3.6305 QR 3.6500 Services Cac 40 Index/D 3951.02 5.82 0.15 3971.92 3584.38 QE All Share Industrials 3,174.67 0.29 % SILVER UK ...... QR 5.5299 QR 5.6067 QE All Share Insurance 2,139.26 0.45 % Dj Indu Average 15091.68 0 0 15144.8 12035.1 QR 2.7322 Euro ...... QR 4.6941 QR 4.7600 QE All Share Real Estate 1,675.44 1.38 % CA$ ...... QR 3.5549 QR 3.6242 QE All Share Telecoms 1,250.61 0.58 % Egypt Cma Gn Idx 1026.29 32.57 3.28 999.95 312.38 Swiss Fr ...... QR 3.7783 QR 3.8321 QE All Share Transportation 1,534.1 0.32 % Hang Seng Inde/D 22930.28 -59.53 -0.26 23944.74 21423.25 Yen ...... QR 0.0355 QR 0.0362 QE Market Summary Comparison Aus$ ...... QR 3.5753 QR 3.6469 Iseq Overall/D 3958.99 -9.77 -0.25 4009.59 3396.67 CRUDE OIL Today Previous day Ind Re ...... QR 0.0659 QR 0.0671 14-05-2013 13-05-2013 Karachi 100 In/D 20474.62 229.8 1.14 20303.26 16036.31 Pak Re ...... QR 0.0367 QR 0.0374 Index 8,938.10 8,900.25 BRENT Change 37.85 52.75 Nikkei 225 Index 14758.42 -23.79 -0.16 14849.01 10398.61 Peso ...... QR 0.0877 QR 0.0894 % 0.43 0.60 $ 102.42 SL Re ...... QR 0.0285 QR 0.0291 YTD% 6.93 6.48 S&P 500 Index/D 0 0 0 1636 1266.74 Taka ...... QR 0.0464 QR 0.0473 Volume 1 1 , 5 2 6 , 5 4 7 1 3 , 4 8 5 , 0 2 2 DUBAI Nep Re ...... QR 0.0414 QR 0.0422 Value (QAR) 350,448,159.15 615,697,389.21 Straits Times/D 3432.76 3.8 0.11 3447.73 3160.83 Trades 5,158 5,055 SA Rand ...... QR 0.3906 QR 0.4003 Straits Times/D 2971.47 22.7 0.77 3035.78 2657.77 $ 100.12 Up 24 | Down 12 | Unchanged 03

QATAR EXCHANGE | DAILY TRADING REPORT | 14-05-2013

INTERNATIONAL MARKETS A List of Shares from the world

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

A C C-A/D 1205.7 -2.6 21523 Cipla-A/D 398.5 3.35 46942 Hind Org Chem-/D 13.13 -0.1 8018 Lloydsfin.-B/D 0.67 -0.01 14815 Saur.Cem-B/D 21.5 0.7 24049 Lloyds Bnk Grp/D 58.3583 0.21 28146457 Aarti Drugs-B/D 180.15 2.05 2493 City Union Bk-/D 54.25 0.5 14501 Hind Unilever-/D 583.6 1.05 49152 Lok.Hous&Con-B/D 14.95 0.7 213995 Savita Oil-B/D 474.3 4.2 5016 Marks & Sp./D 418.9 -4.7 724656 Aban Offs-B/D 314.5 -3.45 53474 Colgate-A/D 1549.15 15.5 14540 Hind.Petrol-A/D 306.4 -0.2 58446 Lupin-A/D 752.25 1.3 72658 Timexgroup-B/D 13.12 -0.08 11607 Next/D 4590 -2 86485 Aegis Logis-B/D 149.55 1.85 7288 Container Cor-/D 1131.05 21.7 23708 Hindalco-A/D 105.4 0.9 854887 Lyka Labs-B/D 9.27 0.17 1842 Tinplate-B/D 40.75 -0.35 7228 Pearson/D 1191 -6 465680 Ahmed.Forg-B/D 105.4 2.8 9941 Dcm Financia-B/D 1.41 -0.07 2001 Hous Dev Fin-A/D 868.95 5.7 74075 Maha Scooter-B/D 436.5 21.6 4674 Ub Engineer-T/D 21.1 -0.15 1167 Prudential/D 1156 -6 1229297 Alembic-B/D 18.85 0.2 5501 Dhampur Sugar-/D 43.3 -0.25 6828 I F C I-A/D 29.55 -0.05 1448882 Mangalam Cem-B/D 123.1 -1.7 16491 Ub Engineer-T/D 21.1 -0.15 1167 Rank Group/D 160.9 -0.1 19655 Alok Indus-B/D 9.05 -0.1 3510673 Dr. Reddy-A/D 2025.65 -55.3 131104 Idbi-A/D 87.1 0.85 152227 Mastek-B/D 127 0.75 6253 Ucal Fuel-B/D 56.5 0.55 1121 Rentokil Initi/D 93.2 0.65 687831 Andhra Paper-B/D 209.7 -0.7 56102 E I H-B/D 60.8 -1.1 16433 India Cement-B/D 87.1 0.75 97854 Max India L-A/D 209.7 -1.15 17656 Ultramarine-B/D 58 0.65 1540 Rolls Royce Pl/D 1211.875 27 1667602 Apollo Tyre-A/D 88.5 -1.55 236244 E.I.D Parry-B/D 143.6 -0.3 5448 India Glycol-B/D 141.05 -0.45 9470 Mrpl-A/D 46.5 0.05 49153 Unitech P -A/D 27.45 -0.2 3409237 Rsa Insrance G/D 112.5 0 3856053 Asahi I Glass-/D 50.85 0.3 3625 Eicher Motor-A/D 3263 204.2 13270 Indian Hotel-A/D 56.8 -0.3 26793 Nahar Spg.-B/D 76.55 -2.05 7776 Sainsbury(J)/D 387.1 -2.8 1622220 Ashok Leyland-/D 22.2 0.1 179666 Electrosteel-B/D 16.95 -0.25 42281 Indo-Bcount-B/D 12 -0.1 3150 Nation Alum -A/D 35.95 0.1 44773 LONDON Schroders/D 2454 14 130061 Bajaj Hold-A/D 924.6 2.8 9907 Emco-B/D 19.5 -0.1 19363 Indusind-A/D 491.25 -2.1 99608 Navneet Pub.-B/D 63.1 1.15 11014 Severn Trent/D 2081.28 256 3358274 Ballarpur In-B/D 17.35 -0.3 45674 Escorts-B/D 62.95 -0.8 91731 J.B.Chemical-B/D 83.25 0.95 9195 Nepc India-B/D 2.22 0.11 15232 3I Group/D 355.7 7 870002 Smith&Nephew/D 764 -5 597265 Banaras Bead-T/D 30.6 0.05 2000 Essar Oil-A/D 80.65 -0.75 707068 Jagson Phar-B/D 9.55 0.06 2000 Neuland Lab-B/D 111.15 0.25 1690 Assoc.Br.Foods/D 2006 13 201365 Smiths Group/D 1310 10 262054 Bata India-A/D 809.15 10.05 46817 Eveready Indu-/D 17.85 0.25 125816 Jbf Indu-B/D 107.25 1.05 2609 Nrb Bearings-B/D 34.35 -0.4 9149 B Sky B/D 819 4 1378426 Standrd Chart /D 1569.5 17 2198195 Bayer Crop-B/D 1284.35 32.85 2898 F D C-B/D 92.05 -0.45 8618 Jct Elect P -B/D 0.4 0.01 28590 O N G C-A/D 326.5 5.7 459988 Barclays/D 310.1 -2.45 12043816 Tate & Lyle/D 867.5 3 171193 Beml Ltd-B/D 167.35 1 14611 Federal Bank-A/D 457.2 11.3 107683 Jct Ltd-B/D 0.85 -0.01 13651 Ocl India-B/D 150.05 -0.25 3339 Bg Group/D 1223 37.5 5960264 Tesco/D 373.35 -2.2 3580232 Bharat Bijle-B/D 443.3 0.5 2603 Ferro Alloys-B/D 5.21 0.12 11997 Jenson&Nich.-B/D 2.67 -0.14 5132 Oil Country-B/D 43.5 0.45 2392 Bp/D 467.55 2 7163898 Tomkins/D 0 0 0 Bhel-A/D 188.95 -1.25 193114 Finolex-B/D 120.15 1.2 74622 Jik Indust-B/D 0.99 -0.03 2202 Orchid Chem-B/D 64.65 0.2 50574 Brit Am Tobacc/D 3751.96 12 742286 Unilever/D 2812 22 936962 Bom.Burmah-B/D 123.95 -1.5 11067 Forbes-B/D 600 1 1202 Jindal Drill-B/D 209.1 0.05 1195 Orient Hotel-B/D 18 0 2110 British Airway/D 276.4574 0 0 United Util Gr/D 766.5 27 4377746 Bombay Dyeing-/D 82.4 -1.3 95668 Gail-A/D 337.35 5.2 27992 Jktyre&Ind-B/D 116.95 -1.35 4949 Orient.Carb.-B/D 97 3.35 1196 Bt Group/D 306.9 1.1 4372098 Vodafone Group/D 191.464 -2.1 28212772 Cable Corp.-B/D 18.6 -1.4 1790 Gammon India-B/D 21.6 0.3 5323 Jmc Projects-B/D 81.5 1.15 1481 Orient.Carb.-B/D 97 3.35 1196 Centrica/D 384.1 3.3 2648263 Whitbread/D 2712 10 135881 Canfin Homes-B/D 151.5 0.05 2081 Goodricke-B/D 131.7 -0.1 4663 Kajaria Cer-B/D 226 -1 71477 Oudh Sugar-B/D 20.1 0.15 1351 Gkn/D 291.7 4.1 734441 Castrol Ind-A/D 335.8 6.7 78160 Goodyear I -B/D 290.65 -3.7 10584 Kalpat Power-B/D 80.7 -1.15 4003 Rallis India-B/D 134.8 1.95 24093 Hsbc Holdings/D 741.7 2.1 6473948 Century Enka-B/D 113.05 2.6 4221 Hcl Infosys-B/D 35.85 -0.95 469203 Kalyani Stel-B/D 42.3 -0.45 8730 Rallis India-B/D 134.8 1.95 24093 Imperial Tobac/D 2294 -21 725097 Century Text-A/D 311.15 1.85 113806 Him.Fut.Comm-B/D 8.5 0.02 121183 Kg Denim-B/D 15.44 0.63 18930 Reliance Indus/D 385.25 -3.85 70434 Kingfisher/D 324.8 -5.8 2637410 Chambal Fert-B/D 46.7 -0.4 141452 Himat Seide-B/D 33.7 -0.35 3395 Kilburnengg-B/D 12.8 0.26 3396 Ruchi Soya-B/D 68.2 0.2 16193 Land Secs Grou/D 927.5 2.5 460811 Chola Invest-B/D 274 4.7 1134 Hind Motors-B/D 8.78 -0.02 16623 Kopran-B/D 13.66 0.04 2925 S Bk Bikaner-B/D 419.05 -1.4 3164 Legal & Genera/D 180.1722 -0.9 2613231 WEDNESDAY 15 MAY 2013 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 23 Heat rout struggling Bulls Grizzlies rally to defeat Thunder in extra-time, take 3-1 series lead

CHICAGO: LeBron James had 27 points, eight assists and seven rebounds as the Miami Heat routed Chicago 88-65 to seize a commanding 3-1 series lead in their second round Eastern Conference series. Miami, who dominated the Miami Heat’s LeBron James Bulls 115-78 in game two, started dunks the ball against the Washington Nationals’ right with an 11-2 run in yesterday’s Chicago Bulls during the fielder Bryce Harper walks off the contest and never looked back. first half of Game 4 in their field after cutting his neck against “We just try to wear a team NBA Eastern Conference the Los Angeles Dodgers in Los down throughout the series and Angeles, California, yesterday. get better each game,” said James semi-final game in Chicago, who was the leading vote get- Illinois, yesterday. RIGHT: ter in balloting for the NBA All Kevin Durant (35) of the Defensive Team yesterday. Oklahoma City Thunder He added: “We’ve done a great jokes with Mike Conley (11) MLB: Harper job of closing out quarters and of the Memphis Grizzlies going into the next quarter with during Game Four of the momentum.” Western Conference semi- leaves game Chicago shot a dismal 25.7 finals of the 2013 NBA percent from the field and also play-offs at FedExForum in after painful scored a postseason franchise low Memphis, Tennessee. in points in front of a crowd of 21,990 at the United Center arena. wall collision The Bulls scored just nine points in the third quarter, LOS ANGELES, California: another franchise low. Exciting Washington Nationals Miami, defending NBA cham- outfielder Bryce Harper left pions, can now close out the best- yesterday’s game against the of-seven series in game five today Los Angeles Dodgers after slam- at home. ming face-first into the right “We have to come out with the forward to having a chance to three-of-14 and Nate Robinson All-star Zach Randolph had 23 field wall. same intensity that we came out close these guys out Wednesday.” was zero-for-12 and didn’t score. points and 12 rebounds and Marc NBA Results Harper was chasing a deep fly with tonight, both offensively and Carlos Boozer had 14 points and “We are disappointed with the Gasol finished with 23 points and ball in the fifth inning when he defensively,” James said. 12 rebounds for the Bulls, whose way we played,” said Joakim Noah. 11 rebounds for Memphis who Western Conference crashed into a hard portion of the Chris Bosh also scored in dou- previous play-off franchise low “But there is still basketball left took a 3-1 series lead to put them- In Memphis wall that features a scoreboard ble figures, finishing with 14 points in points (69) came against the and we are not giving up.” selves on the brink of their first Memphis 103 Oklahoma City and does not have padding. and four blocks for the Heat who Detroit Pistons in game one of a Meanwhile in another match, appearance in the NBA play-off 97 He remained on the ground for had 19 fastbreak points compared 2007 NBA quarter-finals. Mike Conley scored a team-high semi-finals. (Memphis lead series 3-1) several minutes before walking off to just seven for the Bulls. Their previous low in field- 24 points as Memphis rallied The Grizzlies, who started out Eastern Conference as the Nationals went on to beat “We wanted to work as hard goal percentage (31.1 percent) from a 17-point deficit to beat in the league as the Vancouver the Dodgers 6-2. In Chicago as we could on defence tonight,” also came against the Pistons Oklahoma City 103-97 in extra- Grizzlies before moving to The 20-year-old Harper is Bosh said. in game seven of the 1990 NBA time in game four of their second Memphis in 2001, can wrap up Miami 88 Chicago 65 enjoying a strong start to the sea- He added: “We are looking semi-finals. Boozer shot just round play-off series. the series today. AFP (Miami lead series 3-1) son after making waves through- out baseball in 2012 when he was named an All-Star and won the National League Rookie of the Year. REUTERS Boxing: Pacquiao puts Macau on the fight map Baseball Results HONG KONG: Years ago Macau pro fight yet on Chinese soil. Not surpris- which he calls the “new destination for big management at the University of Macau, Cleveland 1 NY Yankees 0 snatched the title of the world’s biggest ingly, it will be financially advantageous for time boxing”. Zou’s win against Eleazar said it now needed to diversify. NY Yankees 7 Cleveland 0 gambling hub from Las Vegas and now, all concerned. Valenzuela last month drew an estimated “Historically it’s been labelled as a gam- Milwaukee 5 Pittsburgh 1 it wants a slice of the boxing action too. Filipino Pacquiao, 34, once considered 300 million TV viewers in the country. ing destination,” he said. “In Vegas 15 or With Manny Pacquiao following Chinese the world’s best pound-for-pound fighter Organisers say no final decision has been 20 years ago they realised they could make St Louis 6 NY Mets 3 star Zou Shiming to the glitzy casino haven but now battling back from two straight made on the fight’s timing, although expec- money from other leisure tourism or busi- Detroit 7 Houston 2 near Hong Kong, Macau looks set to copy losses, saves a fortune in American tax. tations are high that it will be on the morn- ness streams. Chicago Cubs 9 Colorado 1 Vegas by becoming a boxing capital -- with Macau, and especially The Venetian, the ing of November 24, which is a Sunday, to “There can be a tremendous multiplier Minnesota 10 Chicago White Sox 3 promoters eyeing a huge potential audience giant casino-resort which is hosting the hit Saturday night TV audiences in the effect on hosting events, which needs to be Atlanta 10 Arizona 1 in China. fight, gains more visitors, a higher profile, United States. looked at more in order to push this strat- Kansas City 11 LA Angels 4 The November 24 bout, between Pacquiao and an image diversified away from gam- Macau’s gambling profits overtook Las egy more across the industry. You want to and American Brandon Rios in the semi- bling. And top American promoter Bob Vegas in 2006 and Glenn McCartney, assist- get a positive branding that this is now a Oakland 5 Texas 1 autonomous territory, will be the biggest Arum brings another big event to China, ant professor of gaming and hospitality city of diversity.” AFP Washington 6 LA Dodgers 2 Bergeron’s extra-time winner sends Bruins to next round

BOSTON, Massachusetts: Patrice Bergeron (37), Patrice Bergeron scored the Tyler Seguin (19), game winner 6:05 into extra- and Brad Marchand time to cap a wild rally as the Boston Bruins stunned the (63) of the Boston Toronto Maple Leafs 5-4 in Bruins celebrate game seven of their opening following Bergeron’s round play-off series. game-winning extra- Bergeron, who also scored time goal against the game-tying goal with just 50 the Toronto Maple seconds left in the third period, Leafs during the helped the Bruins become the 2013 NHL Stanley first team in National Hockey Cup play-offs at TD League history to win a game Garden in Boston, seven when trailing by three Massachusetts, goals in the third period. yesterday. “We found a way to win and that is all that matters,” Canadian forward Bergeron Boston advances to the sec- yesterday. Bergeron notched Henrik Lundqvist turned aside said. ond round of the play-offs the winner in the extra session 35 shots to post his second con- The Bruins scored four unan- where they will face the New when his shot from the right secutive shutout as the New swered goals after being down York Rangers who beat the circle was knocked down in York Rangers beat Washington 4-1 with 11 minutes left in the Washington Capitals 5-0 in front of the net. to record their first road victory third period. the second game-seven contest The Leafs clearing attempt in a Game seven and advance to failed and Bergeron picked it up the Eastern Conference’s second New York before firing a shot past a shell- round. Rangers’ shocked Toronto goalie James Arron Asham opened the Reimer. scoring in the first period before Arron Asham Canada’s Nathan Horton and Taylor Pyatt and defenceman (second right) Milan Lucic scored one goal Michael Del Zotto made it 3-0 celebrates with each before Bergeron struck to in the scored. Captain Ryan team-mates send the contest into extra time. Callahan and Mats Zuccarello after scoring Bergeron’s blast from the high tallied in the third for the against the slot beat a screened Reimer up Rangers. AFP Washington high to level the contest at 4-4 Capitals during with less than a minute to go in the first period regulation. NHL Results of game seven Canada’s Cody Franson of the Eastern scored twice, with Nazem Kadri NY Rangers 5 Washington 0 Conference and Phil Kessel, of the US, each (NY Rangers win the best-of-seven series by 4-3) quarter-finals, had a goal and an assist for the at the Verizon Leafs, who were trying to over- Boston 5 Toronto 4 (Boston win the best-of-seven series by Center. come a 3-1 deficit. Elsewhere in another match, 4-3) WEDNESDAY 15 MAY 2013 24 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT Djokovic back to winning ways at Rome Masters Federer registers easy victory against Italy’s Starace

ROME: Two-tme Rome mas- ters champion Novak Djokovic Rome Results began his campaign for a hat- Women’s First Round: Romina Oprandi (SUI) trick trophy with a 70-minute, bt Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) 6-2, 6-0; Sloane Stephens (USA x16) bt Flavia Pennetta 6-2, 6-3 win over Albert (ITA) 6-3, 6-3; Bojana Jovanovski (SRB) bt Montanes which was wrapped Caroline Wozniacki (DEN x10) 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 up with an ace. (7/5); Maria Kirilenko (RUS x12) bt Anabel The Serb was all smiles as he Medina Garrigues (ESP) 6-3, 6-3; Julia Goerges got the job done in his second- Serbia’s Novak (GER) bt Andrea Hlavackova (CZE) 2-6, 6-4, 6-4; round start after a bye after Djokovic eyes Varvara Lepchenko (USA) bt Lesya Tsurenko losing a week ago in his open- a ball against (UKR) 6-4, 6-2 ; Roberta Vinci (ITA x13) bt Elena ing match in Madrid to Grigor QOC to honour Spain’s Albert Vesnina (RUS) 6-7 (2/7), 7-5, 6-4; Dominika Dimitrov. Montanes during Cibulkova (SVK x14) bt Kristina Mladenovic The Bulgarian threat was their match at the (FRA) 1-6, 6-2, 6-2; Ursula Radwanska (POL) bt Ana Ivanovic (SRB x15) 6-3, 2-6, 6-2; Christina knocked out earlier by French ATP Rome Masters ninth seed Richard Gasquet 6-4, McHale (USA) bt Karen Knapp (ITA) 7-5, 6-2; in Foro Italico in Qatar’s best on 6-4. Zheng Jie (CHN) bt Madelina Rybarikova (SVK) Rome, yesterday. Rafael Nadal began building for 7-6 (7/0), 6-3; Yanina Wickmayer (BEL) bt what he hopes will be a lucky sev- Kirsten Flipkens (BEL) 6-4, 6-0; Carla Suarez enth title at the Foro Italico after Navarro (ESP) bt Nadia Petrova (RUS x11) 3-6, winning Madrid, his fifth title of 6-2, 7-6 (7/1). May 21 at Katara a season which only began for Second Round: Petra Kvitova (CZE x8) bt him in February as he returned Sabine Lisicki (GER) 6-4, 0-6, 7-5; Simona DOHA: Qatar Olympic A range of awards will given following seven months of knee Halep (ROM) bt Agnieszka Radwanska (POL Committee (QOC), the coun- such as the Appreciation Award x4) 6-7 (2/7), 6-1, 6-2. injury absence. try’s governing sports body, will for the personalities who have “It’s a little different here with Men’s First Round: Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI host a ceremony to honour the delivered significant services to the (lower) altitude. Playing three x15) bt Carlos Berlocq (ARG) 5-7, 6-3, 6-3; best athletes’, sports officials’, Qatar Sport’s Movement, Sport’s Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) bt Tommy Haas (GER Masters 1000s (form Monte Carlo the possibility of a Nadal rematch Haas 6-4, 6-3. The 35-year-old institutions’, government and Best Sponsor Award (government x13) 6-4, 6-3 ; Fernando Verdasco (ESP) bt a month ago) is difficult when you with Lukas Rosol as he beat the Haas won the Munich clay title non-government organisations’ bodies), Sport’s Best Sponsor Horacio Zeballos (ARG) 6-3, 3-6, 6-3; Jeremy are in the final rounds. Czech 3-6, 6-1, 6-4. little more than a week ago Chardy (FRA) bt Feliciano Lopez (ESP) 3-6, 7-5, at the Sport Excellence Day Award (companies), Golden “There is no time to prepare Rosol upset Nadal in the and reached the third round in 7-6 (7/4) ; Julien Benneteau (FRA) bt Nicolas 2013, which will be held on May Club Award (General Excellence the next tournament. I arrived Wimbledon second round before Madrid. Almagro (ESP x12) 7-6 (7/2), 6-4; Gilles Simon 21. Shield), Ideal Club Award and on Monday and I’m here to try the Spaniard was forced off court Madrid finalist and 15th seed (FRA) bt Filippo Volandri (ITA) 6-3, 2-6, 6-4; The prestigious annual event, the Appreciation Award for the my best.” for his knee recovery. Stanislas Wawrinka staged a Viktor Troicki (SRB) bt Lukas Rosol (CZE) 3-6, which will be held at Katara, best national company involved Djokovic wasted no time in his Second seed Roger Federer, hit fightback to overcome Carlos 6-1, 6-4. building No. (12) in the Cultural in sport’s projects in the country. victory as he tries to finally rid the ground running against Italy’s Berlocq 5-7, 6-3, 6-3. Second Round: Novak Djokovic (SRB x1) Village, is being organised by Also, other appreciation awards himself of ankle problems which Potito Starace and closed out a Spain’s Fernando Verdasco beat bt Albert Montañés (ESP) 6-2, 6-3; Richard QOC to honour those who have will be distributed by Sport Press have bothered him for a month. 6-1, 6-2 win in 51 minutes. Argentina’s Horacio Zeballos in Gasquet (FRA x9) bt Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) succeeded and made a tangible Committee (SPC) according to The top seed improved to 23-4 Frenchman Julien Benneteau three sets, while Frenchman 6-4, 6-4; Roger Federer (SUI x2) bt Potito contribution in boosting sports specific standards,. in Rome, where he won 2008 and defeated 12th seed Nicolas Jeremy Chardy also needed three Starace (ITA) 6-1, 6-2; Juan Del Potro (ARG during the 2012-2013 season. These include the Best Team 2011 titles. Almagro 7-6 (7/2), 6-4 while sets before beating Spaniard x7) bt Andrey Kuznetsov (RUS) 6-3, 6-2; Kevin Senior QOC officials, heads Awards for men’s and women’s, In first-round play, Djokovic’s Russian Mikhail Youzhny sur- Feliciano Lopez 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7/4). Anderson (RSA) bt Marin Cilic (CRO x11) 6-3, of sports clubs, federations and Best Team Award (clubs), as well fellow Serb Viktor Troicki spoiled prised German number 13 Tommy AFP 7-6 (9/7). honorees will attend the event to as the Best Athlete Award for celebrate the role played by what men and women. sport has achieved and the pros- There will also be an award for perity sport has had on the Qatari boy’s and girl’s for the best junior community. athletes. THE PENINSULA Wiggins loses more List of Honourees - Sport Excellence Day 2013 Award Honouree’s Name (s) Abdulah Al Zaini (Ex-President of the Qatar time as Uran wins Appreciation Award for Characters who served Athletics Federation) Sports Movement Abdulaziz bin Khalifa Al Attiyah (Ex-President ALTOPIANO DEL Neither won the stage but of the Qatar Billiard and Snooker Federation MONTASIO, Italy: Olympic Nibali and Evans came over the Sport’s first Supporter Award Al Rayyan Channel silver medallist Rigoberto Uran finish line of the 167km race, (Government Bodies) soloed to victory in the hilly which began in Cordenons in 10th stage of the Giro d’Italia the extreme northeast of Italy, Sport’s first Supporter Award Exxon Mobil yesterday, as his 31secs behind (Companies) Seashore Group Sky team leader Colombian Uran. Appreciation Award For Best National Al Balagh Trading and Contracting Company and race favour- Giro d’Italia Tenth Wiggins arrived Company in Executing Sport Projects ite Bradley 37sec later, Qatar Athletics Federation Stage Results Golden Federation Award Wiggins lost meaning the Qatar Shooting and Archery Federation more time to ALTOPIANO DEL Englishman is race leader now fourth over- Ideal Federation Award Qatar Sailing and Rowing Federation MONTASIO, Italy: Results Sports Creativity Award Doha Goals Forum Vincenzo Nibali. from the tenth stage of the all at 2min 05sec Model Stage: Khalifa Model School Uran attacked Giro d’Italia, a 167km run behind Nibali. on his own before from Cordenons to Altopiano Evans, the Primary Stage - Boys: Tunisian Private School the final 4.4km del Montasio yesterday. 2011 Tour de Primary Stage - Girls: Qatar Independent climb to the France cham- Primary Schools for Girls summit finish 1. Rigoberto Uran (COL/SKY) 4.37.42 pion, is second Preparatory Stage-Boys: Hamza bin of Altopiano del overall only 2. Carlos Betancur (COL/ALM) at 20s Abdulmotaleb Independent Preparatory School Montasio in what 41secs behind Distinctive School Award at Schools Olympic For Boys appeared to be a 3. Vincenzo Nibali (ITA/AST) 31 Nibali and must Programme Preparatory Stage-Girls: Amna bin Wahb tactic designed 4. Mauro Santambrogio (ITA/VIN) 31 now be consid- to put the pres- ered the Italian’s Independent Preparatory School For Girls 5. Cadel Evans (AUS/BMC) 31 sure on Nibali’s only real rival in Secondary Stage-Boys: Jassim bin Hamad Astana team. 6. Rafal Majka (POL/SAX) 31 a race which, Independent Secondary School However, 7. Domenico Pozzovivo (ITA/ALM) 31 given Wiggins’ Secondary Stage - Girls: Raba’a Al Adawiya Nibali and fel- performances Independent Secondary School For Girls low victory 8. Robert Kiserlovski (CRO/RSH) 47 in the past Qatar Men’s Junior Handball Team Season’s National Team Award (Men’s) contender 9. Benat Intxausti (ESP/MOV) 1:06 week, seems Qatar Men’s Youth Handball Team Cadel Evans out of reach Season’s National Team Award (Women’s) Qatar Women’s Basketball Team of Australia 10. Bradley Wiggins (GBR/SKY) 1:08 for the 2012 Al Rayyan Handball Team ultimately Selected Tour de France Season’s Team Award (Clubs) responded in champion. Colombian Rigoberto Uran of Sky Procycling team celebrates as he Al Arabi Volleyball Team 12. Michele Scarponi (ITA/LAM) 1:10 positive fashion, Nibali said crosses the finish line to win the tenth stage of the Giro d’Italia cyling Mutaz Essa Barshim Season’s Best Athlete Award upping the pace 14. Robert Gesink (NED/BLA) 1:16 afterwards: “Sky race from Cordenons to Altopiano del Montasio, Italy, yesterday. Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah in the final few 19. Sergio Henao (COL/SKY) 3:14 tried to isolate Season’s Best Athlete Award (Women’s) Bahya Al Hamad kilometres to me to attack Season’s Best Athlete Award – Juniors Ashraf Amjad Mohammad Al Saifi leave Wiggins, me.... but I man- “It was a difficult stage coming is a good position to be in for me Norah Ibrahim Mohammad Al Mutawa the Tour de France champion, aged to gain a few important sec- off a rest day but for me it went and for the team to have two rid- Season’s Best Athlete Award – Girls trailing by over 30secs. onds on Scarponi and the others.” off well. I was expecting Uran to ers there.” Aysha Ibrahim Mohammad Al Mutawa attack. I saw Wiggins behind but Despite losing out to Nibali for Season’s Best Athlete Award in Mechanical Abdulaziz Saadoun Al Kuwari I was more afraid of Scarponi in the bonus seconds on offer for Sports this stage.” third, Evans said he was pleased Season’s Best Athlete Award in Beach and Mahmoud Uthman Saeed (Beach Handball) Uran, meanwhile, claimed to hold on to second place overall Indoor Sports afterwards he had planned to cap after the race’s first major moun- Mohammad Eisa Al-Kebaisi (Al Sadd Futsal Season’s Best Coach Award (National) a strong ride by the team with his tain stage. Team) first stage win from a Grand Tour. “It’s probably not going to be a Stanislaw Szczyrba (Coach of Mutaz Essa “I’m very happy to have taken big deal at the end, but I would Season’s Best Coach Award (Foreigner) Barshim – High Jump) the win today. It is the first win rather not concede time,” he said. for me in a Grand Tour and it is He added:“To maintain my Season’s Best Sport Administrator Award Majed Al Naimi (Secretary General of the Qatar very satisfying after getting so position at this point is still very (Men’s) Cycling Association) Al Anoud Matar Al-Naimi (Director of Women close before. It nice to finally be good. So far, so good. We still have Season’s Best Sport Administrator Award National Teams At the Qatar Shooting and able to finish off a victory,” said a lot of mountain stages to go.” (Women’s) the Colombian. Although aware of Wiggins los- Archery Federation) “It is doubly special as it came ing time, the Australian said the Season’s Best Referee Award Naji Al Aji (Qatar Table Tennis Association) after such a strong ride from the only rider he was focusing on was Season’s Camel Breeder Award (Open Races- Sultan Mohammad Al Wehaibi team. It was always the plan for Nibali. Sheikhs) me to attack on the climb and “I don’t know what was going Season’s Camel Breeder Award (Public things went to plan. The team on behind, of course, but Nibali Ghanem Mansour Al Seif Al Khayarin Races-Tribes) rode incredibly all day. is the rider I have to focus on at Season’s Best Athlete with Special Needs “The result has meant I have this point considering my place in Hassan Al Mansouri Italian Vincenzo Nibali celebrates on the podium after grabbing the pink (Men’s) jersey in the 10th stage of the 96th Giro d’Italia (Italy Tour) cycling race jumped up a few positions on the classification,” he said after yes- Season’s Best Athlete with Special Needs in Altopiano del Montasio, yesterday. general classification so now I am terday’s 10th stage. Nouf Al Kebaisi one second in front of Brad. That AFP (Women’s) WEDNESDAY 15 MAY 2013 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 25 FIBA’s Games push starts in Doha Asian basketball body trying to win Olympic Games slot for hugely popular 3x3 format

BY RIZWAN REHMAT Teams taking part in FIBA Asia DOHA: FIBA Asia wants to 3x3 Basketball capitalise on the popularity of Championship for basketball to have the ‘excit- Men and Women ing’ 3x3 format at the Olympic are seen during a Games, a top basketball official said yesterday. training session The mini version of basket- at Villaggio Mall in ball, currently played by thou- Doha yesterday. In sands of fans around in the the men’s category, world, will make its Asian debut Qatar Maroon and when the inaugural FIBA Asia Qatar Grey will 3x3 Championships for Men and be among the 16 Women starts in Doha today. teams, who have Hagop Khajirian, Secretary been divided into General of FIBA Asia, said: four groups. The “Basketball is the second most two top teams will popular sport in the Olympic advance to the Games when it comes to fan knock-out stages. attendance. We feel with the PICTURES: ADBUL BASIT inclusion of the 3x3 format, our sport will attract more fans at the Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Olympic Games.” Action begins Al Thani, President of Qatar Khajirian said FIBA Asia Basketball Federation (QBF) will submit a detailed file to the at 4:00pm at International Olympic Committee Villaggio Mall (IOC) after the two-day events today. wraps up at Villaggio Mall. Rules of the game “We were expecting the arrival of IOC officials for this event, but the communities,” the FIBA Asia The Official FIBA Basketball unfortunately they won’t be able official said. Rules of the Game are valid for to make it as they have two more Khajirian said QBF even all game situations not specifi- stops to make for the same rea- accommodated a late proposal cally mentioned in the 3x3 Rules son,” Khajirian said. from FIBA Asia to host a wom- of the Game herein. “IOC officials are making vis- en’s event during the two-day The game will be played on a its to different countries to get championship. 3x3 basketball court with one a feedback on the 3x3 format. I “We were only organising the (1) basket. A regular 3x3 court am sure, with the help of Qatar men’s event. But FIBA thought playing surface is 15m (width) x Basketball Federation (QBF), of going one step further. We 11m (length). we will be able to make a great requested QBF to host the wom- The court shall have a regular impression on our fans here in en’s event also,” Khajirian said. basketball playing court sized Doha and with the IOC family,” “Sheikh Saoud bin zone, including a free throw line he added. Abdulrahman Al Thani (President (5.80m), a two point line (6.75m) “This format is played all over of QBF) readily accepted our pro- and a “no-charge semi-circle” Asia. It is for everyone. Men and posal,” Khajirian said. area underneath the one bas- women, young kids and adults, Khajirian confirfmed players ket. Half a traditional basketball anyone can play this sport. All will win individual prizes at the court may be used. you have to have is six friends or Doha event. A size 6 ball shall be used in all family members and you can have “Although this is a team game categories. a 3x3 game,” Khajirian said. and individual performances Each team shall consist of four “Our aim is to get away from shouldn’t be singled out but since (4) players (three (3) players on the regular basketball court so we are in this age of commercial- the court and one (1) substitute). that we interact with sports fans ism, so we have to keep sponsors FROM LEFT: Saadoun Al Kuwari, Executive Director of Qatar Basketball Federation (QBF), Hagop Khajirian The game officials shall consist in Asia,” Khajirian explained. also happy. So you will see play- Secretary General of FIBA Asia, Mohammed Hobash, Secretary General of QBF, and Abdullah Al Marri, member of one (1) referee and two (2) “We don’t want basketball to be ers wining the MVP awards and of the QBF organising committee, during a press conference at Torch Hotel in Doha yesterday. time/score keepers. played only by big athletes with being picked for All-Star teams,” huge muscular bodies. We want Khajirian said. A coin flip shall determine which the game to be easily accessible Khajirian said the decision to opposition at all from any quar- to host the Asian Games was Iran appreciated because our events team gets the first possession. to everyone and enjoyed by the bring the inaugural edition to ter.” Khajirian said. and that too in the 70s,” Khajirian are being held in Doha,” he said. The team that wins the coin sports fans at the same time,” he Qatar was a no-brainer. “The world knows Qatar’s love explained. “We also know Qatar “We are working hard to make flip can either choose to benefit said. “When the idea of bringing our for sports. We saw the Asian will host the 2022 FIFA World this format played at a profes- from the ball possession at the “I think the 3x3 format is the first 3x3 championship to Doha Games here in 2006. The only Cup. We are very confident that sional level,” Khajirian said. beginning of the game or at the best way to create a bond among was floated around, there was no Asian country from this region our file to IOC will be greatly THE PENINSULA beginning of a potential.

The President’s message I extend my am very excited and proud at the Qatar 3x3 teams set to same time that FIBA Asia has gratitude and Itaken the lead in promoting this appreciation to baby of 3x3 with competitions at the zone level for national teams. the President of Over the next one month, what we regale basketball fans will witness is a festival of basketball Qatar Basketball where people from all walks of life DOHA: While other teams in and cutting across age groups will Federation the competition will be con- participate in FIBA Asia 3x3 with centrating more and training the single objective of: JUST PLAY. Sheikh Saoud bin their guns on finishing on the These are not necessarily pro- podium, there will be an addi- fessional players, but there lies the Abdulrahman Al tional interesting factor to charm of FIBA Asia 3x3. watch out for when hosts Qatar We will find players who other- Thani and his team take to court in the 1st FIBA wise may have stopped playing, for Asia 3x3 Championship for Men various reasons, coming back into of dedicated staff and Women at Doha beginning the playing fold, thereby adding a today. Guards Trey completely new dimension to the for coming forward Qatar, as hosts, will have the profile of participants. opportunity to field two teams in Johnson The other significant aspect of to hosting the the competition. (in maroon) FIBA Asia 3x3 is that, this is a plat- But the uniqueness of the hosts and Boney form for national federations and 1st FIBA Asia 3x3 challenge may not end there. Watson are national teams, who otherwise may Sheikh Saud bin Ali Al Thani, Qatar may turn out to be the seen in this find it difficult to get into the main- President, FIBA Asia Championship for only team that will feature a nat- file picture stream of the sport. uralised player in not only one, posted on But with FIBA Asia 3x3, we expect members of Basketball Sport Men and Women. but both the teams. Fiba Asia’s all our 44 member national federa- Association of Thailand for coming And both equally crafty and website. tions in the continent to get active forward to host the 1st FIBA Asia Sheikh Saud bin Ali Al gifted players at that, a report and dynamic in doing the most 3x3 U18 Championship for Girls and Thani on www.fibaasia3x3.fibaasia.net important thing in basketball: JUST Boys. revealed. PLAY. Good luck to all the players and President of FIBA Asia Guards Trey Johnson (left in I also thank the board and participants! the combo picture) and Boney Watson, each a floor general by his own merit and right, will be FIBA Asia 3X3 Championships Draw virtually involved in head-to-head Men’s clash in not only leading their respective teams – Qatar Maroon Group A Group B Group C Group D and Qatar Grey. Mongolia, Qatar Maroon, India, Indonesia, Taipei, Thailand, Japan, Qatar Grey, Of the two Johnson has already Philippines, Sri Lanka Turkemenistan, Iran Nepal, Lebanon Jordan, Hong Kong proven his mettle with the Qatari percentage of 46.8 percent, the Women’s national team playing a vital role report added. Watson, on the Qatar 2,Indonesia, India, Sri China, Syria, Turkmenistan, Thailand, Qatar 1, Hong Kong, in leading the GCC giants to the other hand, has been showcasing Lanka, Philppines Nepal, Lebanon Mongolia bronze medal at the 4th FIBA his wares in Doha. Asia Cup at Tokyo (Japan) last The 35-year-old played a stellar Under-18 Boy’s September. role for Al Rayyan leading them Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Mongolia, Turkmenistan, Indonesia, Qatar, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand 1, Sri Lanka, Lebanon, Prior to arriving in Doha for the to three finals en route to winning India, China, Maldives Syria, Philippines, Taipei Japan, Kazakstan, Thailand 2 Nepal, Macu 1st FIBA Asia 3x3 Championship a grand double with triumphs in - to be held at Villaggio Mall - the 2012-13 Heir Apparent Cup Under-18 Girl’s the 28-year-old Johnson was and 2012-13 the Emir Cup. Turkmenistan, India, Jordan, Philippines, Syria, Malaysia, Thailand 1, Taipei, Macau, China, Indonesia, plying his trade with Angelico Therefore, simply put, the chal- Lebanon, Mongolia Nepal, Sri Lanka Hong Kong, Vietnam Maldives, Thailand 2 Biella in the highly competitive lenge for Qatar teams is more ** Men’s and Women’s matches to be played in Doha on May 15 and 16. Italian Serie A and returned an from within their own backyard ** Under-18 Boy’s and Under-18 Girl’s matches to be played on May 22 to 25 in Bangkok in Thailand. average of 16.4 points per game than from outside. Interesting with a three-pointer shooting fare ahead indeed. AGENCIES WEDNESDAY 15 MAY 2013 26 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT Chelsea, Benfica chase history in Europa League final today Champions League holders aim for salvation; Terry’s fitness concerns Benitez

AMSTERDAM: After a tur- season’s Champions League tri- the history of the club because I bulent season, history beckons umph, but Spanish midfielder have read about it and it is illus- for Chelsea in today’s Europa Juan Mata remains wary of Jorge trated in photos at the training League final in Amsterdam, Jesus’s side. ground.” where they will meet a Benfica “We’re playing against Benfica, At Chelsea, the three-year team reeling from a devastating a historic team in Europe that tenure of former coach Jose domestic defeat by arch rivals will be very tough to beat, as we Mourinho left a strong Portuguese Porto. saw last season in the Champions connection. The premature end to Chelsea’s League,” he wrote on his personal The two Portuguese players Champions League defence had blog on Monday. in the current squad -- Paulo threatened to leave a cloud over Amsterdam was the scene of Ferreira and Henrique Hilario their entire campaign. Benfica’s second European Cup -- are unlikely to feature in Roberto Di Matteo’s dismissal triumph, in 1962, but it remains Amsterdam, but Brazilians as manager created a negative the last venue where they have Ramires and David Luiz both atmosphere that only got worse tasted success in a European final. joined the club from Benfica. when the unpopular Rafael There have been six painful Mourinho’s shadow looms Benitez was appointed as his defeats since then, although the large over Benitez, amid reports interim successor, but now, sal- most recent was 23 years ago, he is poised to return to the vation is in sight. when they lost 1-0 to AC Milan club from Real Madrid, but the Saturday’s 2-1 win at Aston in the final of the 1990 European Spaniard has history of his own Villa essentially secured the club’s Cup. to pursue. place in next season’s Champions There was fresh heartache on Having won the competition League, and victory over Benfica Saturday, when a stoppage-time with Valencia in 2004, he could would turn an unhappy cam- goal gave Porto a 2-1 win over become only the second coach -- paign into one etched in Chelsea their closest rivals that took them after Giovanni Trapattoni -- to folklore. to the brink of the Primeira Liga win the Europa League with two The all-German Champions title. different clubs. League final between Bayern Benfica coach Jesus fell to his Benitez has concerns over cap- Munich and Borussia Dortmund knees in disbelief as a low shot tain John Terry and Eden Hazard, on May 25 means Chelsea’s fans by Porto substitute Kelvin crept both of whom sustained injuries will not be able to crow that they in at Estadio do Dragao, and he at Villa Park. are the champions of Europe for admitted it would be a challenge Terry sat out last season’s much longer. to rouse his players. Champions League coronation But if they overcome Benfica, “It’s a difficult moment for us, due to suspension and fellow they will become the first club to because on Wednesday we’ve got Chelsea stalwart Frank Lampard hold both European titles at the a final and this loss has knocked says it would be a bitter blow for same time. us back,” he said. him to miss another major chap- They are also bidding to Nonetheless, with 51 years hav- ter in the club’s history. become only the fourth team to ing now passed since Benfica’s “I’m gutted for him because have won the Champions League, last continental title, there is no I know what it meant to him the Europa League and the now- shortage of motivation. to miss last season’s final, even defunct Cup Winners’ Cup -- “Benfica are always under pres- though he turned up and sup- which they won in 1971 and 1998 sure when they play and we know ported the team brilliantly,” Chelsea’s captain John Terry (front) arrives at the Schiphol airport outside Amsterdam, Netherlands, yes- -- after Bayern, Juventus and that in every competition we take Lampard said. terday. The English Premier League team will face Portuguese side Benfica in the final of the UEFA Europa Ajax. part in, the aim is to get to the “Whatever we do, it’s as a club, League in the Amsterdam Arena, today. RIGHT: Benfica’s Paraguayan forward Lorenzo Melgarejo takes part Chelsea beat Benfica in the final and win,” he told uefa.com. and as long as John’s here, he’s in a training session. quarter-finals en route to last “I was born in ‘54, but I know part of it.” AFP Italy to push Spotlight falls UEFA for tough Booed Rooney lauds on Brazil for racism curbs ‘fantastic’ Ferguson Confed Cup MILAN: Italian Football RIO DE JANEIRO: The first Federation President Giancarlo of three major international Abete will ask UEFA Chief LONDON: Manchester took his place on the bus, clearly go. I think maybe he’s a little bit sporting events in Brazil begins Michel Platini to introduce United’s Wayne Rooney yester- unhappy the striker would want frustrated.” next month, with football’s tough new legislation in a bid day praised the retiring Alex to leave. Rooney last asked to leave Confederations Cup pitting to drive racism from the sport Ferguson as a “fantastic man- Rooney, speaking to United’s United in 2010, when he accused three former world champions, following the latest incident to ager” -- just days after the vet- in-house television station MUTV, the club of failing to match his including the hosts, against the tarnish the game in Italy. eran Scottish boss revealed that tried to play down any talk of a ambitions, only to change his current title holders, Spain, and The move follows a match the striker had submitted a rift between with Ferguson, say- mind and sign a new five-year outsiders Mexico, Nigeria, Japan between AC Milan and Roma transfer request. ing the former Aberdeen man- contract. and tiny Tahiti. on Sunday at which Milan play- No sooner had the Premier ager deserved all the plaudits he Ferguson’s successor as United But the traditional curtain- ers Mario Balotelli (pictured) League champions defeated received during the parade. manager will be current Everton raiser to the most-watched and Kevin Prince Boateng were Swansea 2-1 on Sunday to bring “It is a fitting tribute to the boss Moyes -- a man who gave sporting event on the planet -- racially abused by a section of the down the curtain on Ferguson’s manager after so long and so Rooney his professional debut at next year’s World Cup -- will be visiting Roma fans. Earlier this year Boateng final home match after more than much success. As much as it is for the age of 16 when the forward watched as much for the action It led to the match referee made world headlines when he 26 years in charge, than he said the team, it’s for the manager, for was with the Merseysiders. off the pitch as on it. implementing an existing but led Milan off the pitch during a England international Rooney what he has achieved and what he Rooney joined United in a £27 Brazil has been beset by delays rarely-used Serie A rule by halt- friendly with third division side wanted to leave Old Trafford. has done to this football club. He million transfer two years later in the construction of venues and ing the game for almost two min- Pro Patria after falling victim to New United manager David deserves everything he has got,” and although Moyes sued him key supporting infrastructure, utes to ask the fans, via a tannoy racist chanting. Moyes meanwhile lauded Rooney Rooney said. over remarks that appeared in straining relations between local address, to curtail their behaviour. Although Boateng won world- as “one of the best players in the “He has been brilliant for us all. the player’s autobiography in organisers and the sport’s world Roma condemned the incidents wide applause for his stance, FIFA world” -- an indication the man He is a great manager, he is suc- 2006, the pair later reconciled. governing body FIFA and raising and called them “totally unac- president Sepp Blatter said he who gave the player his profes- cessful and he is a winner. To do Moyes, speaking Monday to fears about the World Cup and ceptable” but is likely to face a would not condone the idea of sional debut when they were both it for so long is incredible, he is a a meeting of the Cambridge the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro fine for its fans’ behaviour. players or teams abandoning at Everton might want him to fantastic manager.” University debating society, said in 2016. Abete said he will propose the games to protest racism. stay with the Red Devils. Ferguson, who retires at the of Rooney: “I don’t watch all “The legacy of the World Cup introduction of tougher anti- The FIFA chief reacted to the Ferguson was given a raptur- end of the season, dropped Rooney Manchester United games but he will not be the one we hoped for,” racism measures to replace the latest racist incident by posting a ous send-off by a 75,000 crowd for the Swansea match and said is definitely one of the best players the head of the national union much-criticised existing system of message on his Twitter account on Sunday and the adulation the forward had not been in the in the world. of engineers and architects, Jose fines when UEFA’s executive com- on Monday which read: “Appalled continued Monday when he took right frame of mind to play. “I remember watching him dur- Roberto Bernasconi, has said. mittee congress meets in London to read about racist abuse in Serie centre stage during am open top “I don’t think Wayne was keen ing training and he was amazing. “But Brazil has started work- on May 24. A last night. Tackling this issue is bus parade to Manchester Town to play because he’s asked for a We (the staff) asked each other: ing and the main thing is that UEFA general secretary Gianni complex, but we’re committed to Hall to celebrate the 13th Premier transfer and he wants to think it ‘Did he just do that?’ I believe the work will be ready one day, Infantino last month mooted action, not just words.” League title of the Scot’s United through in his mind. I think that’s he is the last street footballer,” because it goes beyond these tougher sanctions for play- Abete, meanwhile, applauded reign. a good idea,” Ferguson told Sky added Moyes, who will take over events and is being done for ers found guilty of racial abuse, the procedure -- introduced The only sour note came when Sports. at United in July. Brazilians.” including a minimum 10-match by officials in the wake of the some fans booed Rooney as he “We’re not going to let him AFP The Confederations Cup, which ban, and stricter punishments for Boateng controversy in January kicks off on June 15, for the first clubs, including partial and full -- used by officials at the Milan- time involves three former world stadium closures. Roma match in a bid to stop the champions -- the hosts, beaten In a statement on www.figc. racist chanting. Euro 2012 finalists Italy and com, Abete called for powers to “There was great coordina- Copa America winners Uruguay close “whole sections of grounds” tion between those responsible -- as well as the current World in the event of incidents similar for public order, the referee, the Manchester United Cup holders and double European to those at the San Siro. other match officials and the play- Manager Alex champions, Spain. Also play- “Fines don’t solve the problem ers,” added Abete, referring to the Ferguson speaks with ing are CONCACAF champions (of racism), because some people temporary stoppage of the match. Wayne Rooney (left) Mexico, Africa Cup of Nations don’t care whether their club is “The procedure developed during the English winners Nigeria, the holders of fined 10 or 20,000 euros... we have in the wake of the Pro Patria Premier League trophy the Asian Cup, Japan, and the to block certain people from the v Milan incident worked. The presentation at Old Oceania champions, Tahiti. All ground,” said Abete. players signalled to the referee three events are designed to Trafford Stadium in “Then, by using tickets with who then tried to deal with the showcase the South American Manchester, northern names, we have to stop peo- problem.” giant’s recent economic and ple going to other parts of the Abete added, however: “Each England on Monday. political progress. A succession stadium.” negative episode like this only of problems, however, has cast a Abete said if need be, “some serves to weaken the image of shadow on the country’s ability whole sections of grounds could our football and, because of a few to complete massive infrastruc- be closed” in the event of repeat hundred idiots, our entire country ture projects, with most running incidents. as well.” AFP behind schedule. AFP WEDNESDAY 15 MAY 2013 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 27

Golf: OneAsia announces Tour IPL: Super Kings go top; Championship event in China

HONG KONG: The OneAsia golf circuit will stage a $2m thumping win for Kings XI Tour Championship at the end of the year in China, the pro- fessional golf tour of the Asia- Pacific region said yesterday. Gilchrist, Mahmood shine in Punjab’s 7-wicket win over Bangalore The Mission Hills Group would host what would be OneAsia’s CHENNAI: Two-time cham- Delhi, on the other hand, are Chennai a quick start collecting 3x6) and Azhar Mahmood (61, Scoreboard final individual strokeplay event pions Chennai Super Kings had out of the competition. 61 from the first seven overs. 41b, 8x4, 1x6) rolled back the of the year at their multi-course little difficulty getting past the The visitors were off to a dis- Hussey was looking in ominous years as the duo spearheaded a CHENNAI SUPER KINGS facilities in Shenzhen from Dec. struggling Delhi Daredevils in astrous start in their run-chase touch once again until he got run resurgent Kings XI Punjab to M E K Hussey c Sehwag b Yadav ...... 26 5-8, commissioner and chairman the Indian Premier League here with Virender Sehwag getting out, leaving his team at 69 for two. a seven-wicket win over Royal M Vijay (run out-Rohrer) ...... 31 Sang Y Chun said here yesterday. yesterday. caught behind off Mohit Sharma Suresh Raina fell cheaply, get- Challengers Bangalore in a cru- S K Raina c Warner b van der Merwe ...... 7 “The OneAsia Tour Mahendra Singh Dhoni blasted in the second ball of the innings. ting Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja cial IPL game yesterday. M S Dhoni (not out) ...... 58 Championship will be a fitting 58 off 35 balls to push Chennai to Though the wicket looked good together at the crease. RCB were riding high after R A Jadeja b Yadav ...... 24 conclusion to what is already 168 for four. for batting, Delhi batsmen were The dangerous combination scoring 174 for three, courtesy a D J Bravo (not out) ...... 12 turning out to be a thrilling sea- In reply, Delhi failed to put up unable to take on the Chennai smashed 57 runs off 36 balls with 136-run partnership in 14.2 overs Extras (LB-2, W-8) ...... 10 son,” Chun said in a statement much of a fight, managing only 135 attack. The result seemed to Dhoni being the aggressor. between Chris Gayle (77, 53b, 4x4, Total (for 4 wkts in 20 overs) ...... 168 announcing the schedule for the for nine at the MA Chidambaram going one way when they lost half Dhoni, in his usual style, hit 6x6) and skipper Virat Kohli (58, Fall of wickets: 1-61, 2-69, 3-74, 4-131. rest of the year. Stadium. Albie Morkel took three their side for 63 runs. four scorching sixes including one 43b, 6x4, 2x6), but 41-year old Bowling: I K Pathan 3-0-24-0 (1w); S Kaul “Last year, any one of four wickets for 32 runs. David Warner, batting in the that landed on the roof. His vic- Gilchrist and Mahmood, 38, made 4-0-37-0 (1w); A Nehra 4-0-37-0; U T Yadav players could have won the Chennai have qualified for middle order, ran out of partners tim in this case was young pacer light of the target with a splen- 4-0-26-2; J Botha 2-0-23-0 (1w); R E van Order of Merit title by winning the play-offs alongside Mumbai once again. His 44 of 37 balls amid Siddarth Kaul. did 118-run stand for the second der Merwe 3-0-19-1 (1w). the final event of the season in Indians and Rajasthan Royals, hot and humid conditions went Jadeja scored two fours in his wicket as Kings XI coasted past DELHI DAREDEVILS Australia. It will be even more and the home win here puts them in vain. 17-ball knock. the target in 18.1 overs. V Sehwag c Dhoni b Sharma...... 0 exciting to go down to the wire at at the top of the standings with Earlier, Murali Vijay (31) and In Bangalore, veterans Adam Seamer Parvinder Awana was U B T Chand c Holder b Sharma ...... 16 a traditional Tour Championship 22 points. Michael Hussey (26) provided Gilchrist (85 not out, 54b, 10x4, the pick of Kings XI bowlers with J Botha c Holder b Ashwin ...... 23 in China.” three for 39 while new ball bowler D A Warner c Vijay b Morkel ...... 44 After last week’s Maekyung Scoreboard Mahmood came away with two for K M Jadhav c Dhoni b Morkel ...... 2 Open, OneAsia stays in South 24 and leg-spinner Piyush Chawla B J Rohrer c Ashwin b Morkel ...... 4 Korea for the SK Telecom Open ROYAL CHALLENGERS BANGALORE was restrictive, conceding just 27 R E van der Merwe c Raina b Ashwin ...... 14 starting tomorrow before going C A Pujara c Miller b Awana ...... 19 runs in his four overs. I K Pathan b Bravo ...... 4 into a break while the majors are C H Gayle b Awana ...... 77 The RCB bowlers came in for U T Yadav (not out) ...... 12 played in Britain and the United V Kohli lbw Azhar Mahmood ...... 57 some punishment while they were A Nehra c Dhoni b Bravo...... 0 States. OneAsia is offering nearly A B de Villiers b Awana ...... 6 also unlucky that a few streaky S Kaul (not out) ...... 7 $15m in prize money this season, M C Henriques (not out)...... 0 lofted shots by Gilchrist and Extras (LB-4, W-5) ...... 9 which concludes in December K L Rahul c M Singh b Azhar Mahmood ...... 8 Mahmood eluded the fielders by Total (for 9 wkts in 20 overs) ...... 135 with the Dongfeng Nissan Cup, Extras (LB-1, W-3, NB-3) ...... 7 a whisker. Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-34, 3-49, 4-56, a team event which pits China Total (for 5 wkts in 20 overs) ...... 174 The result anchored RCB to 16 5-63, 6-102, 7-115, 8-125, 9-125. against an Asia-Pacific select side. Fall of wickets: 1-22, 2-158, 3-164, 4-166, points from 15 games while Kings Bowling: M M Sharma 4-0-22-2 (1w); J O Meanwhile, Korean Ryu Hyun- 5-174. XI moved up to 12 with two more Holder 4-0-39-0; R Ashwin 4-0-19-2 (1w); J woo has roared to second place in Bowling: Azhar Mahmood 4-0-24-2 (1nb); matches in hand. RCB, playing at A Morkel 4-0-32-3 (2w); D J Bravo 4-0-19-2. the OneAsia Order of Merit title Sandeep Sharma 4-0-36-0 (1nb); P Awana home after three weeks and six Player-of-the-Match: M S Dhoni (CSK). race following his victory at the 4-0-39-3 (1nb); P P Chawla 4-0-27-0; M S away games, are slated to play GS Caltex Maekyung Open. Gony 4-0-47-0 (3w). favourites Chennai Super Kings With the pair gaining in con- AGENCIES KINGS XI PUNJAB here, May 18. fidence and stature, Kings XI A C Gilchrist (not out)...... 85 Kings XI survived the early inched their way towards victory Rugby: Eight S E Marsh b Khan ...... 8 loss of Shaun Marsh (8) who was and even the loss of Mahmood Azhar Mahmood c de Villiers b Unadkat ....61 bowled by Zaheer Khan, playing and David Miller (2) in quick D A Miller b Muralitharan ...... 2 his first IPL game this season. success in the latter part of the newcomers in R Sathish (not out) ...... 12 From then on, it was a Gilchrist- innings did not deter the visitors Extras (LB-4, W-4) ...... 8 Mahmood show with the expe- from posting their sixth win in France squad Total (for 3 wkts in 18.1 overs) ...... 176 rienced pair playing some clever 14 matches. Fall of wickets: 1-24, 2-142, 3-162. cricket to ward off the RCB The RCB innings had a sedate Bowling: Z Khan 4-0-30-1 (2w); M C Hen- attack. start despite some boundaries in MARCOUSSIS, France: riques 2.1-0-29-0 (1w); J D Unadkat 4-0-34- Adam Gilchrist of Kings XI Punjap acknowledges the crowd after bring- Both Mahmood and Gilchrist the early overs by Cheteshwar France coach Philippe Saint- 1; M Muralitharan 4-0-44-1; R Vinay Kumar ing up his fifty in IPL match against Royal Challengers Bangalore at M batted quite beautifully, timing Pujara who, however, was first Andre yesterday called up eight 4-0-35-0 (1w). Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore, yesterday. Kings XI Punjap regis- their shots to a nicety in sharp of Awana’s three victims, caught uncapped players for his 35-man Player-of-the-Match: A Gilchrist (KXIP). tered a seven-wicket win. Gilchrist won the Man-of-the-Match award. contrast to Gayle’s brutal hitting brilliantly by Miller at point. squad for the New Zealand tour earlier in the day. IANS next month. Les Bleus, who won just one game to finish last in the Six Boult excited Nations, take on the All Blacks on June 8, 15 and 22, with another Broad wants England by chance to game against the Auckland Blues scheduled for June 11. The newcomers are Eddy Ben play at Lord’s Arous, Alexandre Flanquart, Camille Lopez, Remi Tales, Adrien batsmen scoring runs LONDON: Trent Boult is con- Plante, Daniel Koetze, Bernard Le fident the experience of play- Roux and Noa Nakaitaci. LONDON: Stuart Broad wicket-keeper Matt Prior that matches and not have to save ing a first Test at Lord’s will The main absentee is believes England’s top-order denied New Zealand victory by them at the end.” prove an inspiration and not a Montpellier scrum-half Francois batsmen hold the key to vic- just one wicket in the third Test The centrepiece of England’s burden when New Zealand face Trinh-Duc, who is being rested tory in their upcoming two-Test in Auckland. season will be the Ashes series England in their series opener with Remi Tales (Castres) chosen series with New Zealand. “Looking back at New Zealand, against Australia starting in July at ‘the home of cricket’. instead. While it is a truism that pace okay our skills were not as good but Broad insisted New Zealand Left-arm swing bowler Boult Toulouse flanker Thierry bowling all-rounder Broad and as they could have been but the were more than a side show. was a member of the New Zealand Dusatoir will captain the side in the rest of the England attack fighting character to bat out two “We have a huge summer ahead side that so nearly sealed a series- the absence of Pascal Pape, the must take 20 wickets if they are days to save matches is the sort of us but nothing more impor- clinching won over England in Stade Francais lock who has been to win any Test, big scores from of character you need in Test tant than the first hour here on Petersen Auckland two months ago, taking sidelined since injuring his back the team’s batsmen give bowlers cricket,” Broad said at Lord’s Thursday,” he said. “We can’t look six first-innings wickets. in France’s opening Six Nations runs to play with and put pres- yesterday. too far ahead, we have to focus replaces Smith England, thanks mainly to an defeat to Italy in February. sure on the opposition. “We are a team that are hard on the opening bowlers or open- unbeaten hundred from wicket- There is a strong Six Nations That was certainly the case to beat even when we don’t play ing batters doing their job at 11 for Champions keeper Matt Prior, clung on for presence in Saint-Andre’s list, during England’s victorious Ashes to our best. That’s something we o’clock on Thursday. a draw with one wicket standing with regulars such as Dimitri tour of Australia in 2010/11 where can take very positively out of “We are focused only on this and a three-match contest ended Szarzewski, Nicolas Mas, Yoann they won 3-1 on the back of a trio that series.” week. I think it is very dangerous Trophy 0-0 after neither side was able to Maestri, Louis Picamoles, Morgan of innings victories. He added: “We’ve shown the in a sporting environment to look force a victory. Parra and Toulon half-back But England’s top order found character to save Test matches too far ahead. JOHANNESBURG: Test Now New Zealand have Frederic Michalak. AFP life much harder going in New when we haven’t been right but “We know we have a big job on opening batsman Alviro come to England for a two-Test Zealand where the teams recently we need to show character to go our hands. New Zealand played Petersen (pictured) will replace series, with the second match at shared a three-match series 0-0. and get 450 in the first innings. fantastically well in New Zealand. Graeme Smith in South Africa’s Headingley starting next week. All Black ace England only escaped a shock “That’s where the positivity We were a little bit under par, but squad for the ICC Champions The tourists are rightly in bull- series defeat thanks to a brilliant comes out of Test matches and we’re very determined to put that Trophy in England and Wales ish mood, with the 23-year-old Howlett retires last-ditch unbeaten hundred from that’s where you set up Test right.” AFP next month. Boult -- making his first trip to Petersen, 32, has not the UK -- one of several members DUBLIN: Munster’s former appeared in a one-day inter- of the Kiwi team set to play their New Zealand wing Doug national since January 2012 maiden Test at Lord’s. Howlett has retired from pro- but Andrew Hudson, convener “It’s exciting to be here and I’m fessional rugby, the Irish prov- of the South African selectors, just looking forward to it now,” ince announced yesterday. said he was a “like-for-like” Boult said before New Zealand’s The 34-year-old, the All Blacks’ replacement for his Test open- practice session at Lord’s record try scorer, has been forced England’s Jonny ing partner, Smith, who with- yesterday. to quit because of a shoulder Bairstow (left), drew last week in order to have “It’s unbelievable here. There’s injury suffered earlier this season. Jonathan Trott (sec- surgery on his left ankle. no doubt there’s a great feel to Munster’s squad captain, ond left), Joe Root Primarily regarded as a Test the ground and it’s awesome to Howlett underwent surgery in a (centre), Alastair specialist, Petersen has played in be here.” bid to regain full fitness but has Cook and Nick only 17 one-day internationals, However, he added: “We don’t now retired on medical advice. Compton (right) walk scoring 437 runs at an average of want to be daunted. It’s obvi- The former Auckland wing to a training session 31.21 with four half-centuries. ously a massive opportunity that scored a record 49 tries for the before tomorrow’s But Hudson said Petersen was lies ahead of us and we’re look- All Blacks in 62 Tests from 2000 currently in good form for English ing to take it on and back our- to 2007. first Test against county Somerset. selves to come away with a win.” He joined Munster in early New Zealand at Revised squad: AB de Villiers Boult said he expected England 2008, helping them win the Lord’s in London, (capt, wkt), Hashim Amla, to prove even tougher opponents European Cup that season, and yesterday. Farhaan Behardien, JP Duminy, in home conditions but added went on to make more than 100 Faf du Plessis, Colin Ingram, Rory New Zealand were ready for the appearances, scoring 35 tries. Kleinveldt, Ryan McLaren, David challenge. Munster added that Howlett Miller, Morne Morkel, Alviro “There were a lot of emotions had indicated he will remain in Petersen, Robin Peterson, Aaron going through my head over those Cork, where he lives with his wife Phangiso, Dale Steyn, Lonwabo last two days (in Auckland),” he and three children, for the imme- Tsotsobe. AFP said. AFP diate future. AFP Wednesday 15 May 2013 5 Rajab 1434 Volume 18 Number 5700 Sport Price: QR2

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www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 Pakistan Qatar’s Eljaish held to 1-1 to increase players’ salaries KARACHI: Pakistan draw by Saudi’s Al Ahli announced yesterday that its 21 cricketers on central con- tracts would get a 15 percent AFC Champions League: Al Gharafa suffer 2-1 defeat against Al Shabab salary increase and a 10 per- cent rise in match fees this year. DOHA: Captain Anderson The contracts, up for renewal came to Eljaish’s rescue as in January, were finally handed the AFC Champions League to players hours before they left debutants denied 2012 final- for Britain early yesterday. ists Al Ahli a first-leg advan- Dashing all-rounder Shahid tage as yesterday’s last 16 AFC Afridi was lucky to retain his Champions League tie ended 1-1 place in the “A” category after following an entertaining con- being dropped from the one- test at Al Rayyan Stadium. day squad for next month’s Motaz Al Mosa’s header in Champions Trophy in England first-half stoppage time had and after retiring from Test seemingly put unbeaten Group C cricket in 2010. winners Al Ahli in pole position Test and one-day captain for a return to the quarter-finals Misbah-ul Haq, Twenty20 ahead of next week’s return fix- captain Mohammad Hafeez, ture in Jeddah. Saeed Ajmal and Younis Khan But Anderson (Anderson also retained their “A” category Vieira Martins) capitalised on a status. defensive mistake from Al Ahli to The Pakistan Cricket Board level the tie. keeps 21 players on central Meanwhile in another match, contracts in three categories, Nasser Al Shamrani struck seven marked by three different scales minutes from time as Al Shabab for retainers and match fees. came back from a goal down to “For the second consecutive hand Qatar’s Al Gharafa a 2-1 Majed Mohammed (left) of Eljaish and Al Ahli’s Mansour Al Harbi vie for the ball during their side’s AFC Champions League last 16 stage in Doha year the players’ retainership defeat in the last-16 meeting yesterday. RIGHT: Sebastian Tagliabue (left) of Al Shabab challenges Al Gharafa’s Nene during their match. fee has been increased by 15 yesterday. percent,” a board statement Saudi international Al said. Shamrani scored with a con- between the target and the late Djibril Cisse headed the ball corner of the net. In the 65th Spearhead Umar Gul, bats- fident finish after Sebastian run of Alex. across goal and Bresciano pushed minute, Fernando almost put his Results man Umar Akmal and spinner Tagliabue had levelled the scores Al Shabab managed to weather his shot over the line, despite the side in front, only for Burhan to In Buriram Abdul Rehman were demoted for Al Shabab following Mark that early storm and, as the half vain attempt by Naif Al Qadi to keep the ball out, but there was Buriram United (THA) 2 to “B” category after lacklustre Bresciano’s opener for the home wore on, Michel Preud’homme’s clear to safety. little the goalkeeper could do (UZB) 1 performances last year. side three minutes prior to the side established a foothold, with Ten minutes after the restart, about Al Shamrani’s winner in In Beijing Others in the “B” category half-time interval. Marcelo Camacho shooting just however, Al Shabab were back the 83rd minute. Beijing Guoan (CHN) 0 FC are Asad Shafiq, Azhar Ali, Al Gharafa started the game wide eight minutes before the on level terms when Tagliabue – The Saudi international raced Seoul (KOR) 0 Junaid Khan, Shoaib Malik and in impressive fashion, with Alex break when referee Kim Jong- signed at the end of last season onto a through ball that caught In Doha Nasir Jamshed. sending his fourth minute header hyeok awarded the Saudis an from Al Ettifaq after impressing the home defence sleeping and his Wicketkeeper-batsman just wide of Waleed Abdullah’s free kick after goalkeeper Qasem in the AFC Cup – headed the ball measured right-foot strike was Al Gharafa (QAT) 1 Al Shabab Kamran Akmal regained his (KSA) 2 goal. Burhan was judged to have held down to Fernando Menegazzo, comfortably beyond the reach of central contract after losing Four minutes later, a cross- on to the ball beyond the regula- whose return pass resulted in Burhan, ensuring Al Shabab go In Doha out last year and was placed cum-shot from Nene (Anderson tion six seconds. the Argentinian curling the ball into the second leg with an advan- Eljaish (QAT) 1 Al Ahli (KSA) in the “C” category along Luiz de Carvalho) flew agonisingly Al Gharafa were in front. beyond Burhan and into the far tage to defend. AGENCIES 1 with Mohammad Irfan, Imran Farhat, Taufeeq Umar, Aizaz Cheema, Adnan Akmal, Faisal Iqbal and Ahmad Shahzad. The increases give “A” cat- Pellegrini favourite to egory players a monthly salary Former of 359,375 rupees ($3,600) and Manchester a Test match fee of 440,000 City manager rupees ($4,400). replace Mancini at City Roberto AFP Mancini leaves the team hotel LONDON: Manuel Pellegrini deny here and now being the the Italian’s services, and Paris remained the odds-on favour- new coach of Manchester City, Saint-Germain, Napoli and sev- in London, Format changed ite yesterday to become the I haven’t signed any agreement eral Russian clubs also said to be yesterday. new manager of Manchester with anybody. interested in him. Manchester for women’s City after Roberto Mancini was There was speculation, too, City’s shock FA Cup Final City sacked sacked a year to the day since that if Pellegrini did not arrive defeat by Wigan at Wembley on manager Ashes series he brought the Premier League at Eastlands, City might bring Saturday meant they ended this Roberto trophy to Eastlands. interim Chelsea boss Rafael season without any silverware Mancini on Malaga boss Pellegrini has been Benitez on board. and strengthened rumours that Monday SYDNEY: The Australian a reported long-term target for The former Liverpool man- Mancini, who replaced Mark following his women’s cricket team will face City, having previously won plau- ager, who will lead the Blues in Hughes in 2009, was about to be team’s feeble their English counterparts over dits for his work at two other their Europa League final against dismissed. defence of the all three formats of the game in Spanish clubs in Real Madrid and Benfica in Amsterdam today, is The club’s Abu Dhabi-based Premier League August with the winners of the Villarreal. set to leave Chelsea at the end of owners confirmed Monday the title they won Ashes being decided on a points Several British newspapers this season. end of Mancini’s three-and-a- exactly one system, officials said yesterday carried extensive profiles of Yesterday’s edition of The Times half-year tenure, with a City year ago. Women from the two countries Pellegrini even though Monday said Mancini would be a man statement also talking of a need first competed against each other saw the Chilean try to dampen in demand, with French club to “develop a holistic approach to in a series to mirror that of their down speculation by saying: “I Monaco leading the chase for all aspects of football at the club”. male compatriots in 1934 and the This appeared to be a refer- contest became a biennial Test ence to Mancini’s supposedly series in 2001. Mancini’s Record at Man City poor communication skills that The next version taking place in HONOURS had seen him publicly criticise second to already crowned English Mancini, for all that fans were England later this year, however, Premier League Champions: 2012 players while enjoying a frosty champions Manchester United chanting his name during the FA will comprise one Test match, relationship with several senior and 13 points adrift of their local Cup Final at Wembley. three one-day internationals and FA Cup winners: 2011 club officials. rivals. Meanwhile, assistant coach three Twenty20 encounters. Community Shield winners: 2012 There were reports of ten- The 48-year-old’s time at City David Platt has left Manchester Winning the Test match will Premier League record: sion between Mancini and the saw the club win a first major tro- City following the sacking of man- be worth six points with a win in 2009-10, Finished Fifth Spanish duo of City’s chief execu- phy in 35 years with the 2011 FA ager Mancini, the Premier League each of the limited overs matches 2010-11: Finished Third tive Ferran Soriano and director Cup, while last season’s Premier club said on their website, worth two points. The winner of of football Txiki Begiristain. League title was their first top- “David was offered the oppor- most points claims the series and 2011-12: Champions When asked earlier in the flight crown since 1968 and saw tunity to continue his work with the Ashes trophy. 2012-13: Second (at time of Mancini’s sacking) season if he reported to them, the manager rewarded with a new us but has declined the invita- “The women’s game has seen Mancini’s sacking means the Premier League’s major trophy Mancini said: “Txiki and Ferran? five-year deal. tion. He has decided to leave his huge growth in interest and pro- winners from 2011-12 have now all been sacked. League Cup- They are not above me. Above But City’s second succes- role with his close friend Roberto file as a result of the limited overs winner Kenny Dalglish was dismissed by Liverpool last May, me there is only Khaldoon (Al sive group stage exit in as many Mancini,” City said. formats in recent years,” Clare and FA Cup and Champions League-winner Roberto Di Matteo Mubarak, the chairman) and seasons from the European Platt, 46, and Mancini were Connor, head of England women’s by Chelsea in November. In addition, Championship-winner Sheikh Mansour (City’s owner).” Champions League appears to team- mates in Serie A at cricket, said in a news release, Brian McDermott was sacked by Reading in March. City are currently a distant have weighed heavily against Sampdoria. AFP yesterday. REUTERS