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Sunday 31 March 2013 19 Jumada I 1434 - Volume 18 Number 5655 Price: QR2

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Business | 21 Sport | 30

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780 Licences of 10 Karzai in Doha to discuss Taliban office BY MOHAMMAD SHOEB

DOHA: Afghan President recruitment Hamid Karzai yesterday con- firmed that talks on opening a Taliban office in Qatar will be held here today. “We will hopefully discuss the firms cancelled issue of Taliban office in Qatar tomorrow,” the visiting leader told reporters at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel yesterday. 21 agencies to wind up business The opening of a Taliban office here would make it easier to hold DOHA: The Ministry of Labour Only those agencies that are negotiations for a peace process to has terminated the licences of practically functioning have been end more than a decade of war in 10 manpower agencies recruit- included in the evaluation, said an Afghanistan. ing housemaids for violating the official, hinting that some agen- Until earlier this year, Karzai labour law. cies had become defunct. had not agreed to the idea of The decision follows a strin- He said the Ministry rating opening a Taliban office in Qatar gent and continuous evaluation would give the agencies an oppor- as he feared that his govern- process launched by the Ministry tunity to improve their perform- ment would be sidelined in talks last year. ance and avail of the privileges that between the militants and the Besides the companies facing are given to the best performing United States. closure, as many as 21 agencies companies. The agencies have Karzai, who is on a two-day have sought permission from been given the right to challenge visit to Qatar, was welcomed at the Ministry to voluntarily wind the Ministry’s decision if they feel the Doha International Airport up their business, a senior offi- they deserve a better ranking. by Qatar’s Minister of State H E cial disclosed yesterday, while Faris Al Kaabi, another official Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Attiyah. announcing the results of the from the same department said Asked to shed some light on his latest evaluation conducted by that complaints about manpower visit to Qatar and his scheduled the Ministry over the past two agencies have declined after the meeting today with the Emir, months. Ministry launched this evalu- H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa The Ministry conducts the ation process. Majority of the Al Thani, he said: “It will be a suc- assessment every six months complaints are from prospective cessful and happy trip….” and classifies the agencies based employers about delays in recruit- According to earlier reports, on their performance. Only agen- ment of maids. Taliban leaders have refused cies recruiting housemaids are To address this issue, the to have direct contact with subjected to this evaluation, said Ministry is now issuing house- Karzai, saying he is a puppet of Fawaz Al Rees, director of the maid visas directly to the agen- Washington, which supported his Recruitment Department at the cies that can be later transferred rise to power after a US-led mili- Ministry said at a press confer- to the respective employers. Such tary operation oust the Taliban ence yesterday. visas are issued only to agencies from power following the terror- Minister of State H E Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Attiyah welcoming Afghan President Hamid Karzai at Doha International As in the previous assess- that are put in the A category. ist attacks of September 11, 2001. Airport yesterday. ments, the new results also indi- Asked if this would not lead to However, with Nato-led forces cate that majority of the agencies trading in visas, the official said due to withdraw from Afghanistan would stay and the rest would the Taliban and Karzai’s insist- “If we want to have talks to have failed to make the grade in the agencies have been brought by the end of 2014, Karzai recently leave the country by the end ence that his appointees be at the bring peace to Afghanistan, the the Ministry list. Of the total under strict monitoring to pre- changed his mind and agreed to of 2014, but added that the US centre of negotiations. main side must be the Afghan 132 companies, only 17 have been vent such practices. the proposed Taliban office in had no plan to completely leave Meanwhile, before Karzai left government’s representatives — given A grade while 36 have been This will not fully solve the Doha, and is slated to firm up the Afghanistan in the near future. Kabul, his spokesman Aimal the High Peace Council, which has put in the B category. A total of problem because there are only plan today with the Emir. However, any future peace Faizi was quoted as saying: “We members from all the country’s 79 agencies have been classified in 17 such companies and their quota The president said there were talks face numerous hurdles will discuss the peace process, ethnic and political backgrounds,” the C category indicating a poor or visa is limited. about 150,000 foreign troops in before they begin, including con- of course, and the opening of an Faizi added. performance. THE PENINSULA Afghanistan, of which 15,000 fusion over who would represent office for the Taliban in Qatar.” THE PENINSULA

Qatar’s real GDP grows over 6pc Qatar Airways to be first to land at new airport DOHA: A Qatar Airways the lounge facility will begin their steering committee of the new terminal complex. passengers can use a shuttle bus DOHA: Qatar’s real gross aircraft will fly from Doha operations from the new airport airport ,said HIA was all set to From the car park, passengers service that will operate from domestic product in October- International Airport (DIA) to following the arrival of the first receive passengers and visitors. will be able to enter the passen- HIA to the DIA departures ter- December 2012 rose 6.2 percent Hamad International Airport flight. Travellers will enter the pas- ger terminal complex through the minal and from DIA to HIA. from a year earlier, growing (HIA) tomorrow, marking the The airlines which will move senger terminal complex from the eastern link bridge connected to Initially, HIA will have a han- 6.6 percent from the previous soft opening of the new facility. to the new facility tomorrow are east side and go directly to the the parking facility. dling capacity of some 28 million Quarter, according to the pre- Qatar Airways will thus become Air Arabia, Air India Express, check-in counters. After check-in, The taxi pick-up point is passengers a year, increasing to 50 liminary estimates released by the first airline to touch down Biman Bangladesh Airlines, fly- immigration and security checks, located on the arrivals floor on million in its final phase of devel- Qatar Statistics Authority yes- at Qatar’s brand-new airport. dubai, Iran Air, Nepal Airlines, passengers will be directed to con- the left side when exiting the ter- opment beyond 2015. terday. On a cumulative basis, The inaugural flight will take Pakistan International Airlines, course B. Passengers departing minal and the limousine service is Cargo operations and freighter the real GDP of the year 2012 is off a few minutes ahead of its RAK Airways, Syrian Air and and arriving will board and exit available on the right side. Across flights are expected to move from estimated at QR341.12bn when scheduled arrival at the new Yemen Airways. aircraft via an air bridge. the road from the arrivals floor DIA to HIA soon. Qatar Airways compared to the estimate of 2011 airport at 12.20am on Sunday, Abdul Aziz Al Noaimi, Parking will be available at the there is a pick-up point for pri- will move its entire operations to at QR321.07bn. Full report on page 21 sources told The Peninsula. Chairman of Qatar Civil Aviation eastern side of the short-term vate cars. the new airport by the year-end. Ten airlines that don’t require Authority, who also heads the car park in front of the passenger Arriving and departing THE PENINSULA Two Kuwaitis accused in UAE plot trial: PM Sidewall skiing RIYADH: Two Kuwaiti citi- zens are among 94 suspected Saudi to allow women’s Muslim Brotherhood members on trial in the United Arab Emirates accused of planning sports clubs: Report to overthrow the state, Kuwait’s prime minister said. The two RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is to committee to allow women’s sports are “suspected of involvement in licence women’s sports clubs for clubs. The General Presidency of financing this cell”, Sheikh Jaber the first time, Al Watan daily Youth Welfare, which functions Al Mubarak Al Sabah said in an reported, in a major step for like a sports ministry, only regu- interview published by Asharaq a country where clerics have lates men’s clubs. Al Awsat yesterday. REUTERS warned against female exercise. The daily said that the Interior Last year the kingdom, where Ministry had decided to allow ‘Land Day’ marked women must have permission women’s sports clubs after review- from a male relative to take many ing a study that showed flaws in the SAKHNIN: Arab Israelis big decisions, sent women athletes existing system. In August two Saudi and Palestinians rallied yes- to the Olympics for the first time women, a judoka and a sprinter, terday to commemorate Land after pressure from international became the first to compete for their Day. Thousands marched from rights groups. Until now, women’s country in the Olympics. here to the central event at exercise facilities, including gyms, Saudi women are barred from the memorial site dedicated to have had to be licensed by the driving and must seek the permis- the six, killed by Israeli forces Health Ministry and designated sion of a male “guardian”, usually during mass protests against Saudi youth demonstrate a stunt known as “sidewall skiing” (driving on two wheels) in the northern city of as “health centres”. a father, husband or brother, to plans to confiscate Arab land Hail, yesterday. Performing stunts such as sidewall skiing and drifts is a popular hobby among Saudi youth. Last April Watan, owned by a marry, travel abroad, open a bank in the Galilee region. Saudi prince, reported the gov- account, work or have some forms Full report on page 12 ernment had set up a ministerial of elective surgery. REUTERS SUNDAY 31 MARCH 2013 02 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME

Food festival ends today

Tens of thousands of people visited the fourth Qatar International Food Festival (QIFF) over the weekend at the Museum of Islamic Art Park (MIA Park). The festival, which ends today, features several cuisines from around the world and signature dishes from some of Doha’s best five-star eateries. Dinner in the sky offers visitors the gourmet experience of enjoying a three-course meal 40 metres above the ground. Bahraini wins Barcelona trip Over 800 entries for QF’s contest for travel with FC Barcelona team

DOHA: Qatar Foundation for Education, potential among young people across the due to PSG’s Qatari ownership and Qatar Science and Community Development has world by working on various projects and Foundation’s partnership with FCB. received an overwhelming response from programmes. In her photomontage, Khulood Qatar Foundation will continue to present FC Barcelona (FCB) fans, eager to win a was able to capture the values shared by a series of events featuring fantastic prize competition that offers the once-in-a-life- the two organisations, as they endeavour competitions and live match screenings in the time opportunity to travel with the FCB to encourage human development and the weeks ahead. The first leg of the FCB-PSG tie team. Qatar Foundation received over pursuit of excellence in education, research, takes place tomorrow. That evening QF will 800 entries from across the region for science and sport. host a ‘fans zone’ event, where a variety of its ‘48 hours only’ competition, with 10 Khulood will soon be flying with a friend fun-filled sporting competitions will be held, submissions shortlisted. One lucky win- to Barcelona, before travelling with the followed by a screening of the big match. The ner, Khulood Ebrahim from Bahrain, was FCB team to Paris and watching the first event is open to the public, and attendees will selected for producing an outstanding leg of the Champions League Quarter Final be invited to enter a ‘golden goal’ contest to photomontage design, which captured the tie between FCB and Paris Saint-Germain guess the correct time of the first goal scored spirit of the partnership between Qatar (PSG). The clash, which will be taking place in the live game. The contestant whose guess Foundation and FCB. at PSG’s iconic Parc des Princes stadium, will is closest to the right answer will win two Through their ongoing partnership, Qatar pit two of Europe’s footballing giants against tickets to travel to Camp Nou to watch the Foundation and FCB aim to unlock human each other, and has a strong local connection second leg on April 10. THE PENINSULA

International Arabic debate from April 21

DOHA: The Second International Inter- Universities Championship for the Debates in Arabic language will be held under the patronage of H H Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, the Chairperson of Qatar Foundation. The four-day event from April 21 to 24 will be organised by Qatar Debate Center at Qatar National Convention Center (QNCC). Some 43 universities of Arab countries are expected to participate in the debates. In addition, several Arabic delegations from the uni- versities in Australia, Turkey, US, UK, Canada, and Malaysia will also take part. The championship aims to strengthen relations among the universities in the fields of education and culture and to come closer to the Arab youths. Qatar Cool expands operations at The Pearl-Qatar

DOHA: Qatar District Cooling Company (Qatar Cool) recently announced updates on its operations at the Pearl-Qatar and West Bay districts. Following a trend towards eco-friendly technologies in the region, the company’s three plants witnessed an increase in cooling energy produced as the demand for district cooling service continues to rise. “Qatar Cool’s operations have been steadily growing over the past few years as they have completely sold out the capacity of the two plants in West Bay. Furthermore, the company is in design stage for a third plant that will serve waiting list cus- tomers,” the company said. THE PENINSULA

SUNDAY 31 MARCH 2013 06 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME All underpasses on Salwa Road open Opening of two lanes each on both sides of the four-lane highway enables free flow of traffic DOHA: All the new under- passes on the Salwa Road on both sides of the highway are now open immensely contribut- ing to the free flow of traffic. The underpasses from the Al Asiri flyover to the Industrial Area direction were opened for traffic last week, while the sub- ways in the opposite direction were opened on Friday. Two lanes each on both sides of the four- lane highway are now open, with work progressing on the other two lanes and the service roads. Commuters travelling to and from Industrial Area and Faleh Bin Nasser interchanges can now bypass all traffic signals and enjoy easy access to the city and towards Abu Samrah. Diverting traffic to the underpass will facilitate works on the main road and service roads , without affecting traffic, the Public Works Authority (Ashghal) had said earlier. Newly opened underpasses on the Salwa Road. The project comprises about seven kilometres of dual carriageway. The Salwa road project com- prises about seven kilometres of will feature eight lanes, four lanes median with continuous service interchanges. Providing a stra- the Saudi Arabian border, the part of Ashghal’s Expressway dual carriageway. The main line in each direction separated by a roads, as well as four two-level tegic corridor between Doha and Salwa Road project is an integral Programme. THE PENINSULA

Fourth Translation Conference to 140 firms line up for Qatar Career Fair begin on April 14 DOHA: Qatar Career Fair 2013 is set questions about Ooredoo’s talent devel- growth. Mowasalat has assigned a special Grands Projets, the French shareholder to offer many career opportunities for opment programmes, opportunities for email address for job applications recruit- and leader worldwide in construction. DOHA: The Translation and nationals through 140 public and private internships and scholarships, and the [email protected]. Applications can Thanks to the organizers of the Qatar Interpreting Institute (TII) of institutions. Exhibitors will be offer- potential for sustainable careers in the also be made at Mowasalat’s stand in QCF Career Fair, we will have six days to meet Hamad bin Khalifa University ing extensive training and recruitment exciting field of communications. by being addressed to mowasalatcareer- with the Qatari youth and open new hori- (HBKU), a member of Qatar opportunities to Qataris. [email protected]. zon for them”, she explained. Foundation for Education, Science The Qatar Career Fair 2013 will open MSHEIREB and Community Development, tomorrow and run until April 6, under the Msheireb Properties, a subsidiary of SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT CENTER UDC and Bloomsbury Qatar Foundation patronage of the the Heir Apparent H H Qatar Foundation and Qatar’s leading sus- The Social Development Center (SDC), United Development Company (UDC), Publishing (BQFP) have announced Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, at the tainable developer, will showcase a number member of Qatar Foundation for Education, will participate as Gold Exhibitor in the this year’s conference programme Qatar National Convention Centre. Here of career opportunities in a variety of busi- Science, and Community Development, will Qatar Career Fair 2013, to educate visi- which is to attract a broad range of are some of the participating companies ness units and disciplines at the Qatar be offering training opportunities, expert tors and participants about the company’s audiences. The conference will be and institutions: Career Fair 2013. career counsel and information on the human capital initiatives and the prom- held brom April 14 to 16. Tareq Al Hammadi, Recruitment Center’s professional development pro- ising career opportunities it can offer to “Texts in Contexts’ is an EXXONMOBIL QATAR Manager at Msheireb Properties, said, “As grams to visitors. Qataris in order to develop in them the annual event that aims to enrich Building on its current Qatarization a result of our on-going rapid development, Counselors at the Social Development business skills and acumen needed for them academic and cultural fields by headcount of 47 percent, ExxonMobil Msheireb Properties offers opportunities Center will also offer candidates an over- to become active participants in Qatar’s demonstrating the importance of Qatar is recruiting graduates from local unparalleled in the local market for gifted view of its various career-progression and ongoing development and economic growth. translation as a dialogue between universities and colleges, as well as quali- Qataris, in technical and engineering fields entrepreneurship initiatives that include “We are crystalizing UDC’s new strategy cultures and nations and fostering fied candidates from universities around as well as in a variety of disciplines outside First Step program, TANMIYA, the Beauty to support Qatar’s Qatarisation initiatives discussions and debates among the world. Interested candidates should the construction sector. We are continually Academy, and Rasameel business funding by bringing the company more in tune with local, regional and international have a Bachelor’s degree in engineering, impressed with the quality of candidates program. “The SDC pavilion at QCF will the vision of the nation,” said the compa- academics and professionals,” business-related subjects, communications, graduating from the local universities, as showcase our innovative Career Counseling ny’s Chief Executive Officer, Ebrahim Al explains Dr Amal Al Malki, computer science, international affairs, and well as the candidates approaching us, as Program that enables students and young Sulaiti. “Our participation at this annual Executive Director of TII. a variety of sciences. graduates, from international educational professionals to determine their career career fair proves we are actively seeking The keynote addresses, which “ExxonMobil believes that developing a institutions.” Msheireb Properties will host paths, based on their personal skill-sets and to attract, develop, retain and inspire the are open to the public, are also a pool of diverse and talented local employ- a stand at the Qatar Career Fair to present interests. Through a platform such as QCF best Qatari talent at every level across our valuable platform for the explo- ees supports our business,” said Abdullatif the many opportunities open to national we aim to reach a wider audience, ensur- company and its subsidiaries,” he added. ration of theoretical and liter- Al Naemi, National Development Manager candidates and the company’s on-going ing that more and more high-caliber pro- ary translation discussions. Dr for ExxonMobil Qatar Inc. “As part of our internship initiatives. fessionals receive valuable career advice,” AL MEERA Ovidi Carbonell Cortés from the strategy to help develop Qatar’s energy said Manar Al Dossari, Communication Al Meera Consumer Goods Company University of Salamanca will ana- industry, we aim to maximize recruiting MOWASALAT Manager, SDC. (Q.S.C.),is taking part in the Qatar Career lyse the perspectives on Arabic- and build workforce capacity, including Mowasalat Company (Karwa) is set to Fair and this participation is derived from Spanish translation, while Samuel technical experts and leaders who can add receive a high number of Qataris at the QDVC the embedded philosophy of actively seek- Shimon will describe the past and value locally and compete globally.” Qatar Career Fair , including experienced QDVC will be one of the few construc- ing ambitious Qataris to join them in their present state of literary translation individuals, undergraduates and graduates. tion companies offering job opportunities to ever-growing organization. based on his experience as founder/ OOREDOO A number of the Company’s manag- local talents at the Qatar Career Fair 2013. By participating in the Qatar Career editor of Banipal Magazine. Ooredoo will be recruiting top talent at ers and professionals will be available “Qatar will invest QR 700bn in infra- Fair, Al Meera aims to contribute to the The conference features the sixth Annual Qatar Career Fair. Sheikh at Mowasalat’s stand in QCF to provide structure works within the next decade”, goals of the National Vision, especially with three panels, focusing on this Saud bin Nasser Al Thani, CEO, Ooredoo answers and clarifications in relation to stressed Sheikha Athba bint Thamer Al regards to Human Development. year’s theme, ‘Texts in Contexts: Qatar, and Waleed Al Sayed, COO, Ooredoo appropriate employment opportunities Thani, Chief Support Services Officer of The success of Al Meera’s participation New Cultural Constellations in Qatar, will be part of a significant delega- directly to visitors. QDVC. “It’s really the most exciting time at the earlier Qatar Career Fair can be Translation Studies.’ The call for tion determined to introduce their com- In addition, young Qataris will have the to join the construction industry for young measured with the large number of stu- papers attracted contributions pany to ambitious young people looking for opportunity to learn about the nature of Qataris, men and ladies, who want to par- dents and graduates who flocked to the from regional and international a challenging career. work in Karwa as part of Mowasalat’s ticipate in the big challenges of their coun- company’s stand, and submitted job appli- scholars specialised in translation As one of Qatar’s largest private employ- ongoing efforts to encourage and attract try. Today the construction sector counts cations wishing to pursue a career at Al studies. The presentations will ers, Ooredoo is dedicated to Qatarisation, locals to join work in the Company and few local talents, we need to change this Meera. One such example is that Amal address theoretical and cultural and the company’s pioneering Human its training and development programmes. trend and get Qataris involved in the major Ahmed Al Kuwari – Al Meera Human questions related to translation, Resources Department has made recruiting This year, Mowasalatis focusing on works shaping the country’s future” she Resources Manager. This year Al Meera starting from the Tower of Babel, the top Qatari talent a priority. Ooredoo’s offering employment opportunities online added. joins Qatar Career Fair with more than Abbasid Era, and Chinese tradi- theme this year is ‘Take a Quantum Leap in order to attract the largest possible “By joining QDVC, Qataris will work for 50 vacancies on all hiring levels in the tion, to contemporary discussions with Your Career.’ number of Qataris. Once received, appli- a Qatari company with Qatari Diar as main company from Directors, Managers to of English and French translation At the Ooredoo booth, staff will hand cations are reviewed and assessed accord- shareholder and benefit from the transfer middle management and staff. of classical Sufi poetry. outeducational materials and answer ing to their capabilities and potential for of know-how from VINCI Construction THE PENINSULA THE PENINSULA Youth meet delegates attend environmental activities

DOHA: The 2013 Empower hundreds of young people the conference and water conserva- Youth Conference concluded skills, knowledge and confi- tion, but most importantly to here yesterday with a more dence to take leadership roles in develop and taking action on the than 400 delegates participat- addressing local and international youth’s campaign projects. ing in environmental activities. issues of concern to them, espe- The delegates also attended Delegates from Qatar, Gulf cially in the areas of Sustainable a presentation by Msheireb Countries, Egypt, Tunisia, Development and Sports,” said Properties on Water Sensitive Algeria, UK attending the con- Rota Executive Director Essa Al Urban Design, in which Bassam ference participated in a series of Mannai. Eisa Al Mannai discussed the half-day service learning activi- Kicking off the final day of essential steps taken by Msheireb ties with a mix for sports and EMPOWER 2013, delegates Properties to develop a sustain- environmental activities on the grabbed the opportunity to par- able project with a focus on water. third and final day of Qatar’s larg- ticipate in one of nine half-day, Participants were given a pre- est annual youth gathering. servicing learning activities, view of the driving vision behind Over the course of three days, which were connected to sports Msheireb Down Town Doha. 400 youth took part in various development and United Nation About 50 delegates visited activity-packed programmes of International Year of Water the Landmark Mall where they community project visits and Cooperation. conducted survey, engaged with interactive sessions. The seminar had the involve- members of the public and “For the fifth year in suc- ment of the Earth Charter recorded their responses. Participants during environmental activities. cession, EMPOWER has given and how it was related to the THE PENINSULA SUNDAY 31 MARCH 2013 HOME www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 07 Doing business is now easier: Sheikh Faisal QBA chairman signs MoU with CMU-Q BY MOHAMMAD SHOEB Assistant Dean of Government (QBA), to share his experience Initiatives and Corporate Affairs. as a businessman through a lec- DOHA: Establishing a business It will focus on utilisation of ture entitled “The Active Role in Qatar has become much eas- some of CMU-Q’s most important of Family Entrepreneurship in ier than before. What the older education programmes, research Contributing to Qatar’s National generation achieved in half-a- and strategic studies, namely Vision 2030.” Staged as part of the century, the younger entrepre- Computer Science, Business University’s Dean’s Leadership neurs can do in less than 10 Administration, Biological Series, Sheikh Faisal’s lecture, years, says Sheikh Faisal bin Sciences, Computational Biology followed by questions from the Qassim Al Thani, Chairman of and Information Systems. students, underlined the strong Al Faisal Holding Company, one The agreement also extends to connection between learning and of Qatar’s leading diversified programmes provided by Carnegie business. business groups. Mellon University’s selected In a rare speech, the QBA “The advent of mobile phone Schools and Scientific Research Chairman, intending to motivate and internet has made things Institutes in the US, giving Al the University students present much easier now. What I achieved Faisal access to the University’s in the ceremony, shared many in 50-long years that can be done 5,000 global faculty members. untold stories from his inspiring in less than 10 years. Few decades “I am delighted that we have business journey of over 50 years. ago, there were very limited ave- been able to reach this far-rang- He said that “clear vision, ambi- nues of business in Qatar,” he said. ing agreement with an organisa- tious dream, honesty, patience He added that the advancement tion as prestigious as CMU-Q,” and consistency” are more impor- in science and technology and a added Faisal. “I have always tant and crucial than capital for wide range of business opportuni- believed that business and edu- a successful business. ties have made things very easy. He cation go hand in hand.” He added that big companies was speaking at a Memorandum of Dr Ilker highlighted the role of were not built with big capi- Understanding (MoU) signing cer- CMU-Q’s business strategy, and tal; they were created with big Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani (right), Chairman of Al Faisal Holding, and Ilker Baybars, CEO and Dean of emony between Al Faisal Holding consequently to Qatar’s National minds. So, one should not think Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar, during the MoU signing ceremony at CMUQ. SHAIVAL DALAL and Carnegie-Mellon University- Vision 2030, particularly with its and wait for tomorrow. “Let Qatar (CMU-Q) for cooperation to mission to aid in the development me tell you a secret about ‘City my firm confidence and credibil- also advocated for hiring “honest of the people’s wellbeing is equally cement the link between business of Qatar’s population to build a Centre’ project. The estimated ity helped me to make it a real- and faithful” professionals, and important,” said Sheikh Faisal. and education. prosperous society. cost of the project was over ity,” said Faisal, one of Qatar’s extend needful support to them. He also highlighted that one The agreement was inked To initiate the partnership, the QR300m, and I didn’t have even most successful businessmen. “I suffered losses in business should not expect 100 percent by Sheikh Faisal, and Dr Ilker University invited Sheikh Faisal, QR5m in my accounts… my part- He noted that there will be but never accepted defeat and success in businesses. Even 80 Baybars, Dean of CMU-Q in who is also the Chairman of ners quit the project half-way, “obstacles and hurdles” which he shut-down, because many people percent success is a fairly good. the presence of Fadhel Annan, Qatari Businessmen’s Association calling it a crazy idea. However, referred to as “speed humps”. He would have lost jobs. Taking care THE PENINSULA Aljazeera Media Centre to train imams and preachers DOHA: The Awqaf (Islamic The MoU was signed by Khalid focus on training and updating between the two countries espe- Development Centre said: The cooperation for the centre with Endowments) and Islamic Ali Juhar, Executive Director for the skills of the ministry’s asso- cially in the training , develop- MoU establishes a framework the ministries, agencies and insti- Affairs Ministry has signed Human Resources and admin- ciates totalling 200 imams and ment and consulting field and for the relationship between the tutions. The centre has already memorandum of understanding istrstive affairs at the JMTDC, preachers on a series of media reflects the ministry’s desire to Ministry of Endowments and Al signed other cooperation memos (MoU) with Aljazeera Media and Mohamed Hassan Al Malki, axes and communication skills benefit from the JMTDC’s exper- jazeera network, and will be fol- with the Ministry of Labour and Training and Development Human Resources Department with the public. tise and know-how in this respect. lowed by other detailed memos in the Ministry of Municipality and Centre (JMTDC) to train Director at the ministry. The MoU represents a frame- Munir Daeimi, the Director specific programmes. This is not Urban Planning and Qatar TV. imams and preachers. Ali Juhar said the MoU mainly work for media cooperation of Aljazeera Media Training and the first local or international QNA SUNDAY 31 MARCH 2013 08 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME 227 receive training in airport security Ten-week course held in collaboration with ISF

DOHA: As part of prepara- attended by Deputy commander topics such as public reactions tions for opening the Hamad of the Force Brig Mohammed and their control over them in International Airport (HIA) Abdul Aziz Al Atiyya, Director order to achieve the best behav- scheduled for tomorrow, 227 of Training and Courses at ISF iour in dealing with the public. cadets have graduated in air- Brig Mahdi Mutlaq Al Qahtani, They were also familiarised port security training. Director of Airport Security with national and international The Airport Security department Col Eissa Arar Al legislations in aviation sector. Department conducted a gradu- Rumaihi and the course supervi- At the end of the ceremony, ation ceremony for participants sor Maj Salim Saeed Al Rashdi . certificates were given away to of the second foundation course The course was prepared to the participants and memen- on Thursday. provide the participants with tos were exchanged between The course was held in col- necessary security skills that Airport Security Department laboration with Internal Security enable them to carry out their and ISF. Force (ISF) for a period of ten duties within and outside the The course officer and assistant weeks from January 1 to March airport. director of Training and Courses 28, 2013 in which 227 cadets from The course included theoretical Department at Lekhwiya Maj. the department took part. and practical classes on police sci- Mohammed Musfir Al Shahwani The graduation ceremony held ence and explosives, first aid and was honoured at the function. at Lekhwiya headquarters was shooting. It also covered other THE PENINSULA Cadets during the training programme.

Mesaimeer health centre improves services

DOHA: Primary Health Dr Al Qahtani. Mesaimeer health Care Corporation (PHCC) care centre now offers easy access has successfully completed a to the vaccination clinic with major improvement project in minimum wait time through the Mesaimeer health care cen- use of Qmatic machines as well tre. This move aims to mark as redesigned vaccination rooms the beginning of progressive that now accommodate more changes currently underway service stations. Qatari nationals within the PHCC. also have ‘nationals only’ vaccina- Dr Mariam Abdul Malik, tion day on Thursday mornings. Managing Director of PHCC, School health clinic in its fully extended PHCC’s and her own renovated section offers modern gratitude to the Minister of consulting rooms, special audiol- Health H E Abdullah bin Khalid ogy and optometry rooms, as well Al Qahtani for his support and as dental clinics. The well-baby Texas A&M University at Qatar (TAMU-Q) team (left), and College of the North Atlantic Qatar team. direct involvement through his clinic doubled its capacity and is visits to the centre and his dedica- now offering full service for the tion to the success of the project. youngest citizens. The Managing Director of PHCC is operating through 23 PHCC praised the effort of all primary health care centres dis- TAMU-Q’s project wins research contest staff members to make these tributed into three regions, namely improvements in record time and Central, Western, and Northern. DOHA: Qatar National at this year’s competition, mem- Qatar taking third place for their great pleasure to inform you that with highest standards, while jug- Thirteen of these centres are Research Fund (QNRF) has bers from the winning team project to create a collaborative, today also marks the launch of the gling other daily activities. located in Doha city, while the awarded first place to students emphasized the importance of the illustrated publication based on 14th cycle of UREP,” commented The group in charge of carrying rest are located in populated from Texas A&M University scientific research experience they the preservation of Qatari oral QNRF’s Executive Director, the makeover project was led by areas in all parts of the country at Qatar (TAMU-Q) at the gained through the Programme. folktales. Dr Abdul Sattar Al-Taie, while Dr Durriya Al Qahtani and made in order to provide a wide vari- conclusion of its fifth Annual Radhwan Al Saad said: “This pro- Qatar University and TAMU-Q addressing the audience at the sure that the project stayed on ety of different types of health Undergraduate Research gram supports the overall envi- students were placed fourth and competition. track and with minimum service care services that depend on the Experience Program (UREP) ronment for research that Qatar fifth for their research on the Dr Khalid Al-Quradaghi, disruption. location and needs of each area Competition. is promoting. The data compiled as genetic diversity of endangered Director of Programs at QNRF, “Our patients are our priority throughout a set of objectives. The winning project, which part of research is a resource that mangrove species and specific said: “In line with the Qatar and we listen to their comments The set of objectives focuses on examined the effects of ultra-high the country can refer to in future skills for Qatari secondary stu- National Research Strategy, and needs. This improvement keeping the health of population, pressures and temperatures on years when they adopt different dents to enhance engineering UREP seeks to support basic and project is a result of that two- and prevention from diseases, in oil–based drilling mud, was one techniques for oil drilling.” education success, respectively. applied undergraduate research way communication and we con- addition to patient diagnosis and of five undergraduate projects His fellow student participant, Launched in 2006, UREP is and projects in the fields of natural firmed the basic principles behind treatment, and the provision of a competing at the QNRF event, Mohammed Al Jubouri, added QNRF’s longest running program, sciences, engineering and technol- the primary health care such as long-term and constant support held under the patronage of Faisal that “our research methodology with two cycles per year. Since its ogy, medical and health sciences, community participation, health to patients and their families from Alsuwaidi, President of Research and the interpretation of results inception more than 2,000 under- agricultural sciences, social sci- workforce development, use infants to the elderly, children, and Development at Qatar were both very technical as we graduate students have taken ences and the humanities.” of appropriate technology and adults, married couples, and moth- Foundation for Education, Science had to do an in-depth study of part in it. Over the past six and “Rising participation in UREP, multi-sectional approach,” said ers. THE PENINSULA and Community Development. topics related to our research. a half years, UREP has received among Qataris and non-Qataris Student representatives pre- The skills gained and the knowl- more than 1,250 research pro- alike, demonstrates a grow- sented their research, which edge developed, have expanded posals, with around 650 of them ing interest in undergraduate had been selected through an our horizons.” receiving grants from QNRF val- research and an increasingly Minister to attend Cairo meet extensive review process from Students from College of the ued at a total of around 20 mil- competitive research environ- DOHA: The Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage H E Dr Hamad 88 UREP projects completed in North Atlantic Qatar won sec- lion US dollars. More than 2,000 ment among Qatar’s educational bin Abdulaziz Al Kuwari will visit Egypt today at the invitation 2012, to a panel of seven judges. ond place for their research on undergraduate students have par- institutions. The latest cycle saw of the Arabic Language Academy’s Chairman Hassan El Shafei to They were ranked on the qual- antimicrobial properties of tra- ticipated in the Program during participation by Qatari students participate in the Academy’s annual conference. The minister will ity of their presentations and the ditional Arab medicinal plants, this time. “As we celebrate this increase significantly as compared give a talk on Qatar’s role in preserving the Arabic language. relevance of their data for Qatar. with students from Virginia achievement in undergraduate to the 12th cycle,” he added. QNA Speaking on their achievement Commonwealth University in research education, it gives me THE PENINSULA

Workers Football Souq Waqif Boutique Hotel Cup evokes good response opens new restaurant DOHA: Souq Waqif Boutique across the boutique destinations; DOHA: The first Qatar Workers Hotels, a collection of five-star Souq Waqif Boutique Hotels really Football Cup, which kicked off at boutique destinations, launched encompass a variety of flavours, Al Rayyan Stadium on Friday, has The Dining Room, an exclusive offering something for everyone. received overwhelming response fine dining restaurant offering a The Dining Room is bound to be a as it demonstrated how com- rich variety of international fusion frequent haven for those who appre- panies and their employees can cuisine, in an official inauguara- ciate the combination of a sophis- work together to improve over- tion attended by the Ambassoders ticated environment and fusion all health and wellbeing through of Japan, The Republic of Korea cooking.” participation in sport. and Malaysia among other VIPs, The Dining Room offers a unique The Qatar 2022 Supreme popular local figures and media. seven-course degustation menu, Committee in cooperation with the Accompanied by senior officials consisting of exquisite dishes like Qatar Stars League are partnering from Souq Waqif Boutique Hotels, warm Canadian lobster with wasabi with QSports Leagues to organise the evening saw Mohammad Al tobiko maki, vegetable pearls with the tournament, which will con- Salim, General Manager of Souq lobster and lemongrass emulsion; tinue till April 13. Waqif, cutting the ribbon marking roasted monkfish with smoked egg- “We are continuing to use foot- the official opening of the Dinning plant, baby calamari and crispy corn, ball as a tool to improve people’s lives Room restaurant. coriander jus; and blue cheese ice across every segment of society,” said Abdo Kayali, Group Director of cream with Yemeni honey, poached Saud Al Attiyah, Legacy Director for Sales and Marketing, Souq Waqif pears and almond. the Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee. Boutique Hotels said: “ At Souq The restaurant, located in Al “This tournament is a pilot pro- Waqif Boutique Hotels, one of our Najada Boutique Hotel, is the new- gramme that shows the power of foot- aims is bring such fresh and excit- est addition to the eight dining out- ball to improve individual livelihoods. ing dining options to Qatar. First lets at Souq Waqif Boutique Hotels. We hope companies encourage their The Rooftop Grill in Arumaila, then Subtly decorated in hues of white, workers to practice and play internal Argan — the authentic Moroccan beige and dull gold, The Dining matches in order to have even more FROM RIGHT: Philippe Belhay, Hotel Manager, Al Najada; Mohammad Al Salim, General Manager of Souq Waqif; restaurant in Al Jasra, and now Room reflects the artistic theme of competitive teams for next year’s Kenjiro Monji, Ambassador of Japan and Abdo Kayali, Group Director of Sales and Marketing, Souq Waqif The Dining Room, amongst many Al Najada Boutique Hotel. edition.” THE PENINSULA Boutique Hotels during the inauguration of The Dining Room. other restaurants anc cafés speckled THE PENINSULA

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Crisis in Italy Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate

HE FAILURE of attempts to form a government in Italy this week has caused disappointment and frustration among Italians. After a closely BRICS imagine world without Tfought election, this is not the outcome they had expected. Even when the elections had failed to produce a clear winner, there were hopes that leading parties would compromise in the interest of the country and form a the West’s hypocrisy coalition government. But with all parties sticking to their stubborn positions, an agreement is becoming a remote BY WILLIAM PESEK possibility. The talk of election is again in the air. Yesterday, have been included in the enterprise, or Cyprus, with an economy about the size President Giorgio Napolitano ruled out standing down early that Spain’s 50 percent youth- unem- of Vermont’s, has Lagarde’s undivided to make way for new parliamentary elections saying he HO do they think they ployment rate makes the euro area’s attention in a world awash in financial would keep trying to find a way out of the deadlock. are, these upstart fourth-biggest economy a potential time and political risks? Shouldn’t Group Napolitano, whose term ends on May 15, spoke after economies, Brazil, bomb. The IMF, run by former French of Seven nations chastise Japan’s yen news reports suggested he might resign to get around Russia, India, China Finance Minister Christine Lagarde, is policies or Europe’s denial about the and South Africa? determined to make the unsustainable magnitude of its troubles? You can see constitutional provisions which prevent a president WThat might sum up the feeling in in Europe sustainable. why the BRICS want their own IMF, dissolving parliament and calling elections during his the United States, Europe and Japan That has created a bigger perception an institution that supports economies final months in office. “I will continue until the last day of as the BRICS nations consider a new problem than the IMF and World Bank without the hypocrisy. my mandate to do as my sense of national responsibility development bank that might chal- realize. If you are a world leader, such as True, Brazil, Russia, India, China and suggests, without hiding from the country the difficulties lenge the World Bank and International Dilma Rousseff of Brazil, Vladimir Putin South Africa are a long way from the Monetary Fund. The move brings to of Russia, Manmohan Singh of India, viable economic bloc its members adver- that I am still facing,” he said. mind Alice Amsden, the Massachusetts Xi Jinping of China or Jacob Zuma of tise. When investors talk about the With the delay in forming the government, Italy is losing Institute of Technology economist who South Africa, do you want to support BRICS, they often mean China’s cash crucial time in implementing the reforms needed to take died last year, and her 2001 book, “The such a euro-centric arrangement? Is and voracious appetite for the com- the country out of the economic crisis it’s mired in. Prime Rise of ‘the Rest.’” our Bretton Woods-derived system, one modities of the others. Their political Minister Mario Monti retains full authority at the head The richest nations can stew about forged in the middle of the last century, systems and economic philosophies are of a caretaker administration until a new government can this turn of events, as those on the really in the best interest of five still- as wildly divergent as their immediate periphery of the developing nations with 43 percent of needs as nations. be formed but he will be unable to world economic the world’s population? Will the IMF That hasn’t stopped members from Italian parties undertake any significant reforms. system start see- have anything left if, say, India experi- taking an acronym coined by Goldman must reach a Even the president has admitted ing themselves ences a crisis? Sachs economist Jim O’Neill so seri- compromise to defeat in his efforts to bring together as the core. Or It hasn’t escaped notice that Europe ously that they are on their fifth summit developed coun- is being treated very differently from meeting. Nor did it stop them from add- put an end to the warring parties. All the three The BRICS must main formations in parliament are tries can look in Asia in 1997. Back then, the IMF brow- ing a fifth member. Oddly, it was South political deadlock. believe that the the mirror and beat Asia into harsh reforms that Africa, not, say, Indonesia or South clinging to their entrenched positions, consider how deepened its crisis. It demanded higher Korea, both of which have much bigger which have prevented a majority being world’s economic their actions have interest rates, stronger currencies and economies. formed. Pier Luigi Bersani, whose centre-left alliance has a mechanisms work helped accelerate fiscal tightening while forcing Thailand, Yet as these key emerging economies majority in the lower house but not the Senate, was rebuffed the shift. Indonesia and South Korea to let weak strike out on their own, rich nations by the populist 5-Star Movement, which rejects deals with for them. If not, Take Japan’s banks fail. When Malaysia imposed cap- bear some of the blame. Officials in the success in weak- ital controls, it was demonized. Europe US, Europe and Japan talk a great game the main parties it blames for Italy’s social and economic those among “the ening the yen 17 has gotten a pass on all of the above. of rebalancing the global economy; of crisis. Bersani himself rejected demands by centre-right rest” will create percent in the The same happened when Wall Street increasing the developing world’s say leader Silvio Berlusconi for a cross-party coalition deal that past six months crashed a decade later. The Treasury in decision making; of letting markets would give the Berlusconi a share in power and the right to their own space. to help stimulate Department stood by as regulators, decide exchange rates; of lowering bar- decide Napolitano’s successor. exports. It has banks and corporate leaders eschewed riers to trade and capital; and of greater The president said he would ask two small groups of prompted talk in virtually every prescription it made to transparency. And then, at least since China and else- policy makers in Asia, Latin America 2007, they more often than not played experts to formulate proposals for institutional and social where about a return to the currency and eastern Europe. That includes by other rules. and economic reforms that could be supported by all political wars. Concern about exchange-rate crony capitalism, as top bankers shift Trust is earned, even when your parties. That’s a proposal worth considering. volatility that undermines trade and into senior roles in the federal govern- economy is among those that pow- There is no guarantee that another election will produce growth is a big reason the BRICS, the ment only to rotate back to Wall Street ered global growth for much of the last a clear winner, as Italians remain as polarised as before in vanguard of “the rest,” want to use their a few years later. As a remedy, Richard century. If G-7 members want today’s their political views. For the same reason, leading parties combined $4.4 trillion of foreign-cur- Fisher, the president of the Federal upstarts to join them in the spirit of rency reserves to protect their econo- Reserve Bank of Dallas, has long rec- future prosperity, they must radiate need to listen to the president and prevent a continuation of mies and raise their international clout. ommended breaking up too-big-to-fail sincerity. The BRICS must believe that the current stalemate. The yen’s plunge coincides with the banks. the world’s economic mechanisms work Markets are watching the situation and have been contortions of the IMF as it twists every Why isn’t the IMF demanding as for them. If not, those among “the rest” nervous. A worsening of the crisis will have serious which way, and then some, to preserve much from the Obama administration? will create their own space. consequences for the economy. A political crisis is as the euro. Never mind that the euro zone Why is the IMF always backing bailouts (William Pesek is a Bloomberg View may be too messy and incompatible to of a Greek economy that has learned columnist.) dangerous as an economic crisis. • save. Forget that Cyprus never should nothing from its failings? How come WP-BLOOMBERG The other side Quote of Europe must remember Bosnian Serb savagery the day

NYONE who drove through happened in the former Yugoslavia was welcome for the guilty verdicts and sen- permanently remove non-Serbs from rural Croatia and Bosnia a crime that brings shame, not simply tences handed down by the war crimes the territory of a planned Serbian state.” in Yugoslavia in the 1980s on the petty warlords who oversaw the tribunal in The Hague on Wednesday. To look at the two men as they stood Awould probably have been butchery, but upon the wider Europe, Mico Stanisic, the former interior min- in the dock, it was hard to believe that We have come to enchanted by this corner of Europe, fat and comfortable in its prosperity ister in the Bosnian Serb republic and they could have been responsible for with its lush green hills and orchards, and complacently believing that the Stojan Zuplianin, a former police chief in such savagery. the point when its picturesque farmhouses and villages savagery that had been visited on the Bosanska Krajina, were both convicted Zuplianin, with his bushy white we have cut off and its distinctive barn, mounted of continent by Hitler’s Nazis, half a cen- of crimes against humanity, including moustaches looks like a favorite uncle, pillars topped with shaped stones to tury before, could never happen again. murder, torture, unlawful detention, not a mass killer. And he probably was perestroika. Politics is stop mice and rats clambering up to Memories are long in the Balkans ethnic cleansing and looting in Bosnia a devoted family man, cherished by his increasingly turning eat the harvest. and forgiveness, perhaps understanda- in 1992. Each man was sentenced to young relatives. But then as the parade Within a few years, this beauti- bly, is in short supply. But at least when 22 years in jail. of Nazi killers from the death camps into imitation. We ful countryside and many of its town those who were responsible for some In delivering their verdicts, the judges showed after the World War II, the face and cities, with their historic mosques of the very worst crimes are found guilty at the International Criminal Tribunal for of the deepest evil is often notable for need a new system and churches, would have been torn and punished, there is some sort of sat- the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) said the its banality, the sheer quality of being of governance of the apart and no less than 100,000 of its isfaction, some sort of closure. two had taken part in a “joint crimi- so commonplace. Mikhail Gorbachev inhabitants buried in the ground. What Thus there will be a widespread nal enterprise with the objective to ARAB NEWS country. Former Soviet leader SUNDAY 31 MARCH 2013 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 11 Could a Korean Armageddon happen?

about two million died, even in those low- North Korea’s threat tech days. If the US is unmenaced in real- to attack the US may ity, that by no means applies to South Korea or Japan. Both are within range of North Korea’s hundreds of short- and be unrealistic, but medium-range missiles. The Southern capital Seoul – which including satel- Seoul is vulnerable. lite cities is home to 20 million people – lies only 25 miles south of the bor- der, the ironically named demilitarised The West should be zone (DMZ). Just north of the DMZ are thousands of KPA (Korean people’s wary in its response. army) heavy artillery pieces, some with chemical shells. These could inflict car- BY AIDAN FOSTER-CARTER nage in Seoul’s glittering skyscrapers, even in an initial onslaught. orth Korea’s latest threat The main risk now is twofold and to rain missiles on the US, linked. The cycle of provocation and reac- with maps showing flight tion – which is which, depends where you paths across the Pacific, are – could spiral out of control. North and leader Kim Jong-un Korea’s latest threat was prompted by Nsigning orders at a midnight meeting, the sending of US stealth bombers on raises even more pointedly the question practice runs over the peninsula – itself that the past month of ever more feverish a reaction to Pyongyang’s rabid rhetoric. menaces has already posed. Namely: are The US can hardly not respond in some they serious? Do they mean it? Could a form, yet it is thus that escalation grows. Korean Armageddon really happen? The other peril is miscalculation. My one-word answer would be no. A Something could go off by accident, or wag at South Korea’s defence ministry either side might misinterpret a move by quipped earlier this month that “barking the other. In that case the risk of escala- dogs don’t bite”. As a generalisation that tion would be very real. seems dubious, but one sees his point. Politics and context matter too. South North Korea prefers sneak attacks, like Korea’s hardline then-president, Lee the torpedo in March 2010 that sank Myung-bak, got much flak at home for the South Korean navy ship Cheonan: not retaliating for 2010’s sinking and 46 died. You don’t give advance notice of shelling. His successor, Park Geun-hye, an ambush. in office for barely a month, seeks “trust- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at an urgent meeting at 0:30am on Friday at an undisclosed location, in which he ordered strategic Some of Pyongyang’s specific threats politik” with the North – whose current rocket forces to be on standby to strike US and South Korean targets any time. can be discounted. There is no evidence ferocity is thus all the more puzzling. that any of their missiles can go further Why won’t Kim Jong-un give peace a than 6,400km, or that they have mastered chance? Even this might prompt the North to Americans. Immediate costs to the US out what the North really wants: a puz- mounting a nuclear warhead on them. If the North did bite the South again strike back. would be $100bn, while business disrup- zle, as I wrote here before. Perhaps an Even if they could – but to repeat, they as in 2010, it would be third time unlucky. More menacingly, Southern sources tion in the region would cost more than upcoming rare party central committee can’t – such an attack would be inter- Some in the tough Southern military, have told local media that their cruise $1 trillion. Those financial figures would meeting will give some clues. I suspect cepted. California, and a fortiori New who long ran the country (notably Park’s missiles could fly in through a Pyongyang be multiples higher now. that internal politics lies behind much York and Washington, can sleep soundly. father, the dictator Park Chung-hee), are window and take out – well, anybody, It was also Clinton who, on a visit to of this. Yet complacency is ill advised. South itching to give the North a good kicking. know what I mean? That has put the the DMZ, warned the North that going Meanwhile, British firms such as Koreans have had the barking hound on Park may want peace, but if the North wind up Kim Jong-un, and would be down this road would be “the end of their Koryo and Young Pioneer are expanding their doorstep for 60 years now, and have provokes again she would look intolerably extremely high-risk. country”. That still applies. One hopes tours to North Korea, not cancelling. And grown blase. Yet 2010 was a nasty nip – weak if she did not authorise some sort Almost 20 years ago the risks were that a callow, hot-headed youth in the each day dozens of South Koreans still two, in fact, for the North also fatally of counter-strike. quantified. In 1994, Bill Clinton seri- Pyongyang hot seat has no illusions on commute from Seoul across the DMZ shelled a Southern island later in the The problem, of course, would be to ously considered a strike on North that score. South Korea would prevail, if to supervise Northern workers at a joint year. There might be more bites. And no keep that limited. One idea mooted would Korea’s nuclear site at Yongbyon. The at a terrible cost. venture industrial park. That is the real- elderly Southerner forgets the ghastly be to hit statues of the late leaders Kim joint chiefs of staff estimated that a What can be done? Basically extreme ity on the ground. With any luck it will 1950-53 Korean war, when the North Il-sung and Kim Jong-il, or their mau- new war in Korea would kill at least a vigilance by the allies, who should try not remain so. really did invade – by land, mainly – and soleum. The symbolism would be potent. million people, including up to 100,000 to escalate. Try secret contacts to find THE GUARDIAN UK cuts batter Scotland, north Time to decide People are already going on Afghanistan BY RONALD E. NEUMANN take away air support the allies hungry thanks depend on for supplies. Other he United States allies will make troop decisions to coalition cuts, has problems in only after we do. Afghanistan, with the Doubts about US intentions and the greatest TTaliban, Pakistan and confuse everyone, particularly Afghan President Hamid Karzai. the Afghans, who, when in doubt The Obama administration is and as a matter of survival, move deprivation is making them worse by dilatory to hedging behaviour instead of decision-making about how many to professional military devel- US troops will remain there after opment. It is clear that a mini- in Scotland 2014. mally effective force needs to While recent news has focused have a presence in the country’s and northern on the latest spats with Karzai, four major military areas: Herat, there are some bright spots. The Mazar-e Sharif, Jalalabad and England. Afghan police are denying the Kandahar. Without these bases, Taliban passage in parts of the US advisers would not have the south where coalition troops have reach to circulate effectively to BY PETER LAZENBY fought for seven years without this the brigade level, where the criti- progress. Afghans are showing cal strengthening of the Afghan here’s a blight creeping an increased willingness toward army will need to continue. across Britain that should self-defence, perhaps partially in This is what advising is all shame any allegedly civi- reaction to a heavy assassination about. It is in the field, not some lised nation – hunger. The campaign by the Taliban. This central camp, where the real T A PCS union protest against the cuts in Preston, Lancashire. Government policies mean ‘disproportionate suffering’ coalition government’s attacks on month, I heard accounts in east- transformation to an effective the welfare state and the benefits for the north’s people, its towns and its cities. ern and southern Afghanistan of fighting force takes place. The system are creating deprivation of the Afghan army, national police “training and advising” that such proportions that increasing £2.1bn. Citizens Advice Scotland into deeper poverty. He said: “The “The cuts to welfare on April and local police forces mutually President Barack Obama has numbers of people cannot afford to has warned that the effects of the only growth sector here is food 1 will make the poor pay for the supporting one another in ways promised needs a presence out- feed themselves. Across the coun- new cuts will be “devastating”. banks and soup kitchens.” mess the banks have created.” that used to be all too rare. side Kabul. So do counterterrorist try, food banks and soup kitchens A joint report was published Yorkshire and the Humber On the same day that £18bn is Yet major challenges remain as forces. Not every essential strike are being established to feed the this month by the Scottish Local TUC secretary, Bill Adams, cut from welfare, Britain’s richest we approach the final handover can be launched from Kabul. hungry. Government Forum Against said: “All across Yorkshire and people will receive a tax cut. of security to the Afghans in 21 The number required to have Once again it is the north that Poverty, and Rights Advice Humberside people are worried The Tories are creating this months. For one thing, local police a chance of achieving the two is bearing the brunt of a Tory- Scotland. The report says those sick about next month’s welfare version of “civilisation”. They forces could yet be a long-term stated tasks of counterterror- led assault, with disproportionate hardest hit by the reforms are changes and how they will cope. could not be doing so without the threat to the state if they become ism and advising is in the range suffering for its people, its towns families with young children, Our region is taking a batter- support of their Lib Dem allies. predatory or promote inter-tribal of 10,000 US troops; that number and its cities. In the 80s and people with disabilities, social ing from this coalition’s damag- One effect of the coalition’s feuding. This is why the expan- is already less than many would 90s the destruction of Britain’s housing tenants, people previ- ing austerity measures while the action is growing support for sion of local police must be done have liked because it leaves a dan- coal and steel industries didn’t ously deemed unfit for work, richest earners in society, includ- calls for a northern regional par- with a deep understanding of each gerously small margin for error. blight the south-east or the and low-income families. In ing the bankers who caused this liament. The Hannah Mitchell village where the force is formed Yes, the United States is facing shire counties. But it left swaths other words, the most vulner- crisis, are queueing up for their Foundation, named after a and careful attention paid to the financial strains. But to gamble of wrecked communities in the able and defenceless in the tax cuts from George Osborne. Manchester socialist, feminist district police chiefs who support our remaining chance of success north – Yorkshire, the north-east, society. Many victims are con- If the government’s aim was to and suffragette, wants to see “a and supervise the force. in Afghanistan on the differ- north-west, Scotland. Today, the centrated in Britain’s biggest make the poorest people and the distinctive democratic socialism US indecision on post-2014 ence of a few thousand troops is assault on welfare is the latest pil- northern cities: Leeds, Liverpool, poorest regions even poorer, then in the north”. forces is damaging the hando- shortsighted or displays a lack of lage of the north. Citizens Advice Manchester, Newcastle, Bradford they are succeeding.” And campaigners for an inde- ver goal. So is the public discus- support for the men and women Scotland reports increasing num- and Sheffield. In the north-west, which suf- pendent Scotland gain strength sion of troop numbers too low whose lives are at risk in carrying bers of people seeking help simply The regional secretaries of the fers some of Britain’s worst levels with every Westminster assault to achieve their stated purpose. out the policy. because they are hungry. Trades Union Congress covering of unemployment, TUC regional on the country. Some allies already have shown If the numbers coming out of The plight of the hungry is Yorkshire and the Humber, the secretary Lynn Collins said: Scotland and the north are a willingness to keep as many White House discussions of troop already desperate. But all this is north-west and the north-east “This region has suffered more populated by 20 million peo- as 2,000 troops in northern and levels are 2,000 or 3,000, the sig- taking place before most of the all this week issued warnings than most, but the stark reality is ple. How wonderful if they were western Afghanistan after 2014. nal to friends and enemies alike coalition’s welfare cuts are imple- of worsening problems to come. that the worst is yet to come. We finally goaded into mobilisation by But they will not do so if those will be a lack of will. It is past mented. On 6 April, a further Kevin Rowan of Northern TUC have had only 20 percent so far of David Cameron and his Lib Dem numbers are too large in pro- time to conclude the decision- £18bn is to be slashed from the said that the region’s most vul- the cuts planned by the coalition cronies. portion to the forces the United making process. welfare budget. Scotland loses nerable people were being driven government. THE GUARDIAN States intends to leave or if we WP-BLOOMBERG SUNDAY 31 MARCH 2013 12 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MIDDLE EAST

Alternative world Thousands march to mark ‘Land Day’ forum ends with Arab Israelis, Palestinians commemorate 1976 deaths; rallyists clash with Israeli forces pro-Palestinian

SAKHNIN, Israel: Arab march in Tunis Israelis and Palestinians rallied yesterday, some clashing with TUNIS: More than 15,000 peo- Israeli forces, to commemorate ple marched in central Tunis Land Day, marking the 1976 yesterday chanting support killing of six Arab Israelis pro- for the Palestinian people, as testing plans to confiscate Arab a week-long anti-globalisation land. forum wrapped up its first-ever Thousands marched from the meeting in an Arab country. centre of the northern Israeli “Land, liberty, dignity,” chanted town of Sakhnin to the central the marchers as they made their event at the memorial site dedi- way to the emblematic Habib cated to the six, killed by Israeli Bourguiba Avenue — epicentre forces during mass protests of the 2011 protests in Tunisia against plans to confiscate Arab that sparked the Arab Spring in land in the Galilee region. several Arab capitals. They waved Palestinian flags The march yesterday was and shouted slogans honouring organised to coincide with Land the dead and Palestinian prison- Day commemorations in the ers held by Israel. Palestinian territories and parts Sakhnin mayor Mazen of Israel to mark the 1976 killing Ghanaim paid tribute to the of six Arab Israelis who were pro- “martyrs” and called on the peo- testing Israeli plans to confiscate ple to continue fighting for their Arab land. lands during a ceremony capping In Tunis, the week-long World the day’s event. Social Forum, placed under the Some 1,000 people also rallied sign of Palestine and the Arab at the Shoket junction in Israel’s Spring, brought together some southern Negev region, express- 30,000 individuals and 4,500 ing support for Palestinian pris- organisations who addressed a oners and a Palestinian state. range of subjects from the envi- They also protested the state’s ronment to women’s rights. plan to resettle tens of thousands The event, launched on Tuesday of desert-dwelling Bedouin in per- with another massive march in manent townships and take thou- the heart of Tunis, casts itself sands of hectares now inhabited as an alternative to the World by the Bedouins. Economic Forum in Davos. Palestinians in the West Bank Many marchers were draped in and Gaza also held rallies, some the iconic Palestinian black-and- erupting into clashes with Israeli white keffiyeh scarf. forces. Syrian dissidents, Chadian In the contested West Bank opposition members and officials zone east of Jerusalem, referred Israeli Arabs carry a giant Palestinian flag during a rally in the northern Arab-Israeli town of Sakhnin commemorating the 37th anniversary of ‘Land Day’, of Lebanon’s Shia movement to as E1 and known locally as yesterday. Hezbollah marched shoulder to Bab Al Shams, a delegation of shoulder with citizens of France, 20 Palestinians, including prime Jewish settlements would isolate trespassing on state-owned land. There were no injuries or arrests In Rafah, near Gaza’s south- Canada and the United States. minister Salam Fayyad, planted Arab east Jerusalem and cut the At the Qalandia checkpoint near although security forces fired tear ern border with Israel, some 500 The peaceful protest wound its olive trees to mark Land Day. West Bank in two. Jerusalem, nearly 200 Palestinians gas at stone throwers. Palestinians took part in a rally way from Habib Bourguiba Avenue Fayyad’s office quoted him as Israeli police spokeswoman clashed with Israeli forces, who Dozens of people also rallied during which some threw stones to the embassy of Palestine some saying that the tree is a symbol Luba Samri said police dispersed responded with tear gas. in the northern Gaza town of at Israeli soldiers, who responded four kilometres away. “that our people’s presence in Bab the delegation that gathered there And near Qalqiliya, some 20 Beit Lahiya while further south, with live fire that wounded one Hundreds of workshops were Al Shams and every corner of our and uprooted the trees. Palestinians threw stones at in Khan Yunis, olive trees were person. held during the forum to discuss land will remain deeply rooted, A few dozen Palestinians held Israeli soldiers, wounding two planted in commemoration. Israel boosted security in a variety of political and social just like olive trees are rooted in a rally outside Jerusalem’s Old of them. The soldiers responded Sami Abu Zuhri of Hamas, Jerusalem and the West Bank problems, as well as the eco- our land.” City while on the nearby Mount with tear gas. which rules Gaza, told people in on Friday “following information nomic grievances behind the Arab Twice in recent weeks, of Olives some 200 others planted Israeli security forces and Khan Yunis the Islamist move- that groups of Palestinians were Spring, the crisis in Europe and Palestinians have formed encamp- trees on land belonging to a Palestinians also clashed at Beit ment would continue “to liberate ready to engage in violent dem- the role of women in the mostly ments in the sensitive E1 zone, Palestinian family. Samri said Ummar, near Hebron, and at Al all of Palestine,” and “continue to onstrations,” Samri said. Muslim Arab world. where experts say construction of three people were arrested for Khader in the Bethlehem region. strike inside Israel.” AFP AFP

One shot dead during south Egypt prosecutor orders arrest of popular satirist CAIRO: Egypt’s public pros- In one of the suits filed against He shot to fame after starting Youssef now joins the ranks of Last week, an arrest war- ecutor yesterday ordered him, the plaintiff asked that legal his satirical show on the Internet several colleagues in the media rant was issued for blogger Alaa Yemen protest the arrest of popular satirist measures be taken against Youssef shortly after the 18-day uprising who face charges of insulting the Abdel Fattah for inciting unrest, Bassem Youssef over alleged so as not to encourage others to which toppled Hosni Mubarak in president. while prosecutors said they would ADEN: A passer-by was killed insults to Islam and to President follow his example, a source said. 2011, attracting over five million The soaring number of legal investigate three other high pro- and three others were wounded Mohamed Mursi, in the latest In typically manner, Youssef views after only seven episodes. complaints against journalists has file television hosts — Lamees Al when police opened fire to dis- clampdown on critical media. confirmed a warrant had been He was signed up by private cast doubt on Mursi’s commit- Hadidi, Amr Adeeb and Youssef perse protesters in the southern Judicial sources said that sev- issued against him. satellite television channel ONTV, ment to freedom of expression. Al Husseini — over incitement. Yemeni city of Aden yesterday, eral complaints had been filed “The warrant against me is before moving to another channel, Under Egypt’s legal system, The Committee to Protect witnesses and medical sources against Youssef, whose razor- true. I will head to the public pros- CBC, to become the first Egyptian complaints are filed to the public Journalists has slammed the tac- said. sharp humour — delivered on ecutor’s office tomorrow unless television show to be filmed before prosecutor, who decides whether tics used against critical media. The witnesses said police inter- his weekly television programme they send me a police car today a live studio audience. there is enough evidence to refer “Those in media are already vened to clear the roads in the Albernameg (The Show) — has and help me save on transport,” Perhaps his biggest appeal has the case to trial. Suspects can coming under pressure from flashpoint Crater district of the spared few public figures. he wrote on his Twitter account. been Youssef’s ability to hold a be detained during this stage of inflammatory, anti-press com- port city where dozens of south- He is accused of offending Dubbed the Egyptian answer mirror up to those in power, start- investigation. ments by Morsi” and members of ern activists had set up roadblocks Islam through “making fun of the to American television’s Jon ing with Mubarak’s entourage, Rights lawyers say there have his Muslim Brotherhood move- as part of a “civil disobedience” prayer ritual” on his show, and of Stewart, the heart surgeon followed by the military council been four times as many lawsuits ment, said Sherif Mansour, CPJ’s campaign. insulting Mursi by “making fun turned comedian has repeatedly that ruled after his ouster and for insulting the president under Middle East and North Africa Medical sources confirmed the of his international standing,” the poked fun at the ruling Islamists finally Mursi, who was elected Mursi than during the entire 30 Programme Coordinator. casualty toll, naming the dead sources said. and Mursi in particular. last June. years that Mubarak ruled. AFP man as Hisham Al Nunu from the city of Taez north of Aden. Last morning, southern activ- ists used rocks and logs to block main roads in several districts, where shops, banks and schools ‘Aleppo button’ afflicts war-torn city stayed closed, a correspondent said. Normal activity returned to ALEPPO: The latest affliction most areas later in the day, apart to hit weary residents of Aleppo Rebels kill cleric, parade body from Crater where the shoot- is written on their faces. Some ings triggered sporadic clashes call it the “Aleppo button”, a BEIRUT: Syrian rebel forces killed a pro-regime Sunni cleric between police and protesters, welt caused by leishmaniasis, in the city of Aleppo, with some reports suggesting he was residents said. an illness that is sweeping the beheaded, and then dragged his body through the streets, a Pro-autonomy groups have Syrian city. watchdog group said yesterday. staged street protests every Transmitted by flies, the para- Sheikh Hassan Seifeddin, imam of a mosque in the northern Wednesday and Saturday since sitic disease arrived along with Aleppo neighbourhood of Sheikh Maqsud, “was killed overnight February 21 in protest at killings the thousands of Syrians displaced Friday by rebel fighters in the east of the area and his body was of southern activists in confronta- from their homes by fighting. dragged through the streets,” the Syrian Observatory for Human tions with security forces. Mohamed, 11, first saw the Rights said. Syrian state news agency SANA reported that Seifeddin On Friday night, a prison unsightly welts caused by the was “assassinated by terrorists who mutilated his body afterwards,” guard was killed and a colleague disease appear on his face three while official television station Al Ikhbariya said he had been wounded in a gun attack as a months ago, and they keep grow- “slaughtered” and beheaded. police vehicle from Mansura ing. “It’s a fly that comes from The Observatory said 31 people had been killed in Sheikh Maqsud prison arrived at the local hos- pomegranates, it bites you and you in 24 hours, including 10 civilians, 14 pro-regime gunman and seven pital carrying a sick inmate. The catch the Aleppo button,” he says. rebels. AFP assailants fled the scene. The disease, which is not fatal On March 18, President but weakens the immune system, volunteer at a makeshift clinic multiply, one former physics stu- Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi warned was largely confined to the coun- in the city. dent has decided to take matters Yemenis against the use of force tryside of Aleppo province until Most of those affected are chil- into his own hands. to express political views, as he the civil war. But as the conflict dren, with Ali saying they repre- Rabie, 30, working with his opened a national dialogue to pave forces people from their homes sent around 50 percent of those cousin and a friend, tours the the way for the drafting of a new and into the city, once Syria’s eco- with leishmaniasis in Aleppo. Tariq al-Bab neighbourhood constitution and elections. nomic hub, the disease has taken To be protected from the dis- armed with a strange machine The dialogue, scheduled to run hold in Aleppo like never before. ease, people should at the very that spits out white smoke. six months, brings together 565 “Between 200 and 250 peo- least be sleeping under mosquito “It’s petrol mixed with insecti- representatives of Yemen’s vari- Syrians, some suffering from the “Aleppo button”, queue at a clinic in the ple with leishmaniasis come for nets, Ali says. cide,” he said, a thin surgical mask ous political groups. northern city of Aleppo. treatment” each day, according With summer approaching and on his face. AFP to 23-year-old Ali, a medical the number of flies expected to AFP SUNDAY 31 MARCH 2013 MIDDLE EAST www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 13 Jordan gets trim govt; Iraq plans to step up searches of Iran overflights to Syria Islamists unhappy BAGHDAD: Iraq said yester- to Baghdad, Mussawi replied: “No the New York Times reported in day that it will step up searches one has provided us with evidence December that Iran appears to of Iranian flights via its air- — just information.” have been tipped off by Iraqi offi- space to Syria, days after US Kerry had told reporters while cials as to when inspections would 14 new faces including a woman in cabinet Secretary of State John Kerry in Baghdad that he “made very be conducted, helping Tehran publicly criticised Baghdad for clear to the prime minister that avoid detection. turning a blind eye to them. the overflights from Iran are in Nasser Bandar, the head of Iraq’s But while Prime Minister Nouri fact helping to sustain President civil aviation authority, saidthat Al Maliki’s spokesman spoke of (Bashar Al Assad and his regime.” no planes had been searched since newly tightened restrictions on He told Maliki that American October because “we have not seen Iranian flights to Syria, the head politicians were “watching what any suspicious flights since then”. of Iraq’s civil aviation authority Iraq is doing” and noted that “We will inspect the flights we have acknowledged that no planes had anything that helped Assad suspicions about,” he added. been searched since October. was “problematic” For months, Bandar said for the past several “Because of a lot of information Washington has accused Baghdad days there had been no cargo flights which referred to transportation of turning a blind eye as Tehran from Iran bound for Syria, and that of weapons, we have increased the sends military equipment through air traffic between the two coun- activity of inspections,” Maliki’s Iraqi airspace, and has called on tries had been limited to passenger spokesman Ali Mussawi said. authorities to make random, aircraft, which are not searched. “We will carry out more ran- unannounced inspections. “They Iran has remained a steadfast ally dom searches, to be assured that are suspending their disbelief, of Assad’s regime despite the con- there is no weapons transfer.” looking the other way, and avert- flict in his country which according Asked if the move was in ing their gaze,” a US official said. to the United Nations has killed response to Kerry’s comments Iraq announced two inspections more than 70,000 people since it last Sunday during a surprise visit of aircraft, both in October, but erupted in March 2011. AFP

First direct Cairo-Tehran New Jordanian ministers leave after the swearing-in ceremony of the new cabinet at the Royal Palace in Amman. flight in over 30 years

AMMAN: King Abdullah II government “experience”. “This the January 23 general election, CAIRO: The first direct flight connecting Egypt swore in a trim cabinet line- government was born after con- said the new government will not and Iran in more than 30 years took off from Cairo up of 19 members yesterday led sultations with deputies who will be able to introduce change. International Airport yesterday, airport officials said. by reformist Prime Minister be part of the government in the “The king still names prime The Air Memphis plane, chartered by Egyptian Abdullah Nsur, who merged coming months as part of the par- ministers; the consultations with businessman Ramy Lakah, is the first direct flight several portfolios to cut spend- liamentary government experi- MPs were cosmetic because they between the capitals since the two countries severed ing but failed to satisfy opposi- ence. We want this to succeed in had no clear opinion, so nothing ties after Iran’s 1979 Islamic revolution. The flight, tion Islamists. order to boost reform,” he said. changed,” Zaki Bani Rsheid, deputy which was carrying the Iranian charge d’affaires and The new government, the Police chief Hussein Majali, leader of the Brotherhood, said. his family to Tehran, will then fly back to Egypt’s smallest in Jordan in more than who enjoys a good reputation for “This government lacks any ele- southern city of Aswan, airport officials said. four decades, comprises 14 new- not using excessive force against ments related to parliament, politi- Egyptian officials said recently that scheduled charter comers including a woman. pro-reform protesters, was given cal parties or reform. Therefore, it flights between Iran and Egypt would be announced The key interior ministry the ministries of interior and will not introduce real democratic soon, but no date has yet been set. Civil Aviation changed hands but veteran dip- municipal affairs. “The goal of reform. It will be a failure just like Minister Wael El-Maadawy had said the flights would lomat Nasser Judeh remains at forming such a trim cabinet is to past governments.” link the historic cities of Luxor, Aswan, and Abu Simbel the helm of the foreign ministry cut government spending,” said Newcomers include a woman, in southern Egypt with the Islamic republic. for the sixth time in a row. Mohammad Momani, a univer- Reem Abu Hassan, a lawyer who Earlier this month, Egypt and Iran signed a memo- Earlier this month, the king sity professor who was handed the was the secretary general of randum of understanding to promote tourism between reappointed Nsur following information ministry as well as the National Council for Family the two countries. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the first unprecedented consultations the ministries of political develop- Affairs, and now heads the social Iranian president to visit Cairo in more than 30 years, between the palace and the ment and parliamentary affairs. development ministry. Also new was given a red-carpet welcome by Islamist President 150-member parliament, tasking “This government has the to the government is Carnegie Mohammed Mursi when he arrived in February. AFP him to form his second govern- smallest ministerial team since Endowment for International ment since October. 1967,” Momani, who was formerly Peace economist Ibrahim Saif, a Nsur told Jordan Television adviser to the premier, said after specialist on the economies of the after the ceremony that he plans the swearing in ceremony. The Middle East, who was given the to reshuffle his cabinet to include Muslim Brotherhood, the main ministries of planning, tourism MPs as part of the parliamentary opposition group which boycotted and antiquities. AFP

Darfur rebels free civilians GENEVA: Rebels in Sudan’s Darfur region yes- terday freed a group of civilians captured nearly a week ago while on their way to a conference, the Red Cross said. “Thirty-one civilians were released by the Sudan Liberation Army-Abdel Wahid in Darfur, Sudan,” said a statement from the organisation. “The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) facilitated their handover to the Sudanese authorities,” it said. ICRC person- nel accompanied the group on a helicopter flight to Zalingei, in West Darfur state. AFP

Bashir to visit South Sudan since split KHARTOUM/JUBA: Sudan’s President Omar Hassan Al Bashir will visit his long-time foe South Sudan for the first time since its independ- ence next week, an offi- cial said, cementing new deals on oil and border security between the two countries. The African neigh- bours agreed this month to resume cross-border oil flows and defuse tensions that have plagued them since South Sudan seceded in July 2011 following an agreement which ended decades of civil war. Bashir had originally planned to visit Juba a year ago but cancelled the trip when border skirmishes between the countries’ armies in April brought them close to a full-blown conflict. He has now accepted an invitation from his south- ern counterpart Salva Kiir to go to South Sudan’s capi- tal Juba next week, Bashir’s spokesman Imad Said said. He gave no date. Bashir last visited Juba on July 9, 2011, to attend the ceremony marking South Sudan’s separation. REUTERS SUNDAY 31 MARCH 2013 14 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com INTERNATIONAL

Suspected ETA Kenya court upholds Kenyatta poll win chief dies in Move clears way for country’s richest man to take top job; defeated rival accepts court ruling Paris hospital

NAIROBI: Kenya’s Supreme Protesters looted shops and He said the court had done its police, some on horseback, formed cooperate with the court to clear BAYONNE, FRANCE: The Court upheld Uhuru Kenyatta’s burned tyres in the street. duty at a historic moment. “It is a security cordon around the his name. Western nations have suspected leader of the Basque presidential election victory But shortly after, Odinga made now for the Kenyan people, their court before the ruling. Police a policy of having only “essential separatist group ETA, who has yesterday and his defeated rival a nationally-televised statement, leaders, civil society, the private chief David Kimaiyo has said he contacts” with indictees of the been in French jails since his quickly accepted the ruling, accepting the court’s unanimous sector and the media to discharge would not allow public rallies. court. They say that will not affect arrest in 2008, has died in a dousing fears of a repeat of the decision. “The court has now spo- (their duty), to ensure that the Kenyatta comfortably beat dealings with the Kenyan govern- Paris hospital aged 54, a police tribal bloodletting that blighted ken,” Odinga told a news confer- unity, peace, sovereignty and Odinga in votes won, but only nar- ment as a whole, but will worry source said yesterday. the country’s last vote. ence. “I wish the president-elect, prosperity of the nation is pre- rowly avoided a run-off by edging the issue could drive a long-time Javier Lopez Pena, who used the The decision cleared the way honourable Uhuru Kenyatta, and served,” he added. above the 50 percent threshold. ally of the West closer to emerg- alias Thierry, was believed to have for Kenya’s richest man to take his team well.” After a week of hearings, the Western donors are watching ing powers such as China. been one of the masterminds of a the top job in east Africa’s biggest Kenya’s outgoing president had six judges of the court had unani- the fate of a regional trade part- David Cameron, prime minister 2006 car bomb attack at Madrid economy, but left foreign pow- called for calm ahead of the judg- mously decided the March 4 vote ner and a country they see as vital of former colonial power Britain, airport that killed two and ended ers with the headache of dealing ment which came five years after was conducted in a free, fair and to stability in a volatile area. They wrote to Kenyatta to congratulate a ceasefire by the banned group. with a leader charged with crimes another ballot dispute triggered credible manner in line with the had also said before the victory him and encouraged Kenyans to He died overnight on Friday against humanity at The Hague. violence that left more than 1,200 constitution, he said. was confirmed that a Kenyatta accept the decision of the court. in the Pitie-Salpetriere hospital After the judgement, police dead. “It is the decision of the Peaceful voting in this year’s win would complicate relations. Neighbouring African states after suffering a stroke, the police fired shots in the air and tear court that the third and fourth vote, and the fact the dispute He is facing charges at the have also been keeping a careful source and a Basque prisoner sup- gas at hundreds of stone-throw- respondents were validly elected,” was played out by lawyers not International Criminal Court of eye on proceedings after they were port group said. Pena had been on ing youths in the western city of Chief Justice Willy Mutunga said machete-wielding gangs, has crimes against humanity, accused hit by the knock-on effects when the run since 1983 before his arrest Kisumu, a stronghold of defeated in court, referring to Kenyatta already helped repair Kenya’s of helping incite the violence after vital trade routes through Kenya in May 2008 along with other sus- candidate Raila Odinga, who and his running mate for deputy image as a safe haven for inves- the 2007 vote. Kenyatta denies were shut down five years ago. pected ETA members when police had challenged Kenyatta’s win. president, William Ruto. tors and tourists. Paramilitary the charges and has promised to REUTERS raided an apartment in the south- western French city of Bordeaux. He took the place of ETA’s political chief Josu Ternera in Summer time switch 2006 during the outfit’s failed peace negotiations with then prime minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Hunger strikers at Zapatero’s government, according to Spanish anti-terrorism sources. Pena was seen as a hardliner and reportedly pushed for ETA to Gitmo ready for end a ceasefire it had called in the middle of the last decade. ETA announced a “permanent death, says lawyer ceasefire” in March 2006 but for- mally called it off in June 2007, citing frustration with the lack of WASHINGTON: His body rav- Rahim Muhammad Uthman), concessions on the part of the gov- aged and weakened by a 50-day for approximately an hour-and- ernment in their tentative peace hunger strike staged in protest a-half via telephone on Friday. process. Spanish police suspect at alleged mistreatment of the The lawyer was adamant that Pena ordered the assassination of Holy Quran at Guantanamo jail, the hunger strikers are prepared former Socialist town councillor Abd Al Malik Abd Al Wahab to die unless there are changes Isaias Carrasco in 2008. has a message for his loved ones. to the protocols that govern how Pena joined ETA in 1980. Three “Tell my family if I die to forgive Qurans are handled at the jail. years later he was detained in me,” said Abd Al Wahab, a 33-year- Uthman has lost more than 20kg the French city of Bayonne and old Yemeni national who has spent since starting the strike. “It’s the jailed for his involvement in ETA’s 11 years — or a third of his life — ultimate expression of despera- extortion ring. The outfit partially behind bars at the controversial US tion,” said Remes. “It’s a matter of financed its activities by demand- detention facility in Cuba. personal autonomy... the detain- ing that businesses in the Basque Abd Al Wahab, whose com- ees are determined to take it all region pay a “revolutionary tax”. ments were relayed by his lawyer, the way unless the military stops Pena is believed to have occupied is among dozens of detainees who searching their Qurans.” several positions in ETA, includ- are staging a hunger strike at the Uthman, meanwhile, said ing being responsible for the military prison amid allegations — prisoners at Guantanamo had group’s explosives and heading its vehemently denied by US officials little faith in the camp’s new military apparatus, before becom- — that guards improperly han- commander and did not trust Antique watches on display at the 10th edition of the Mer Watch exchange, near Blois, central France, yester- ing the leader of the outfit. AFP dled the Quran during searches International Committee of the day. European countries will change to summer time overnight putting clocks forward by one hour. in February. Red Cross monitors who had vis- The scale of the protest is ited them. “Nobody would talk to hotly disputed by officials at the them,” Uthman was quoted as camp and rights lawyers acting saying by Remes. for detainees. Several attorneys Abd Al Wahab, meanwhile, representing prisoners say the told Remes that detainees feel Papal ritual signals better ties with Islam majority of the estimated 130 “death is with them, death is prisoners at Guantanamo’s Camp coming to them” after more than VATICAN CITY: The inclusion election earlier this month. hopes for better relations under who teaches at the Vatican’s 6 wing, which houses “low-value” seven weeks on hunger strike. of two Muslims in a foot-wash- “After September 11, there has Francis. In meetings with reli- prestigious Pontifical Gregorian detainees, are on hunger strike. He insisted that the only way a ing ceremony by Pope Francis is been a stereotype that excludes gious leaders and foreign ambas- University in Rome. “There are US authorities put the number resolution can be found is if US one of several gestures of open- Muslims from public life. But the sadors following his inauguration, major positive signs of openness,” of hunger strikers at 37, a four- authorities change the procedures ness towards the Muslim world pope’s was a gesture of openness the Pope also indicated an inter- he said. fold increase since the first tally for handling Quran. “I don’t want that could change perceptions that shows that exclusion is not est in closer ties. Mokrani said that the foot- released on March 11. them to insult it (the Quran) even of the Vatican, observers said. Christian,” he said, referring to the “It is important to intensify dia- washing ceremony was “very Navy Captain Robert Durand, a though I need it to live,” he told The two teenagers — a boy and a 2001 attacks on the United States. logue among the various religions beautiful, a human gesture”, spokesman for the prison, said 11 his lawyer. “We want a clear rule. girl — were among the 12 inmates The Vatican and the Muslim and I am thinking particularly adding: “Even as a Muslim I fol- of the hunger strikers were being No way we can hide anything in at a youth prison in Rome taking world have had difficult ties in of dialogue with Islam,” he said. lowed this Holy Thursday ritual fed with feeding tubes, while two the Quran even if we wanted part in the unprecedented version recent years and Al Azhar, Sunni Francis said he wanted to “build because it represents the core of of those had been hospitalised for because the religion prohibits it.” of a traditional Holy Thursday Islam’s highest seat of learning, bridges connecting all people”. the Christian message”. Despite rehydration and observation. Guantanamo officials have ritual as part of a series of pre- broke off ties with Francis’s pred- Muslim commentators have diplomatic efforts by the Vatican For David Remes, a law- pointedly rejected suggestions Easter papal ceremonies. “It was ecessor Benedict XVI for what it also picked up on the fact that the under Benedict, Mokrani said yer representing 15 detainees, that copies of the Quran have a very important moment,” said regarded as controversial state- Pope chose to name himself after Muslim leaders have remained “a including 13 hunger strikers, been mistreated at any time. In Mustafa Cenap Aydin, founder of ments. Benedict had strongly called St Francis of Assisi — a mediaeval bit cold”.“Perhaps with this transi- the protest at the prison “is comments earlier this month, the Istituto Tevere, an association for protection of Christian minori- Italian saint who met with the sul- tion, things could change.” unprecedented in its scope, in Durand said that there had been for Christian-Muslim dialogue in ties after a January 2011 suicide tan of Egypt Al Kamil in an appar- Vatican experts meanwhile its duration, in its determina- no incidents of desecration of Rome. bombing at a church in Egypt. ent effort to end the Crusades. played down the significance of tion”. Remes spoke to Abd Al the Quran by guards or transla- The Turkish Muslim met with Both Al Azhar and the “Francis is the name of dia- Thursday’s ceremony in relation Wahab and another prisoner tors, during a routine search for the Pope as one of dozens of rep- 57-member Organisation of logue in difficult situations,” said to Islam, saying it was intended he represents, Uthman Uthman contraband. resentatives of world religions Islamic Cooperation based in Professor Adnane Mokrani, an mainly to show that the Christian (formal name: Uthman Abd Al AFP after the Argentine’s momentous Saudi Arabia have signalled their Islamic theologian from Tunisia message was open to all. AFP

Pile-up Mandela treated Italian president says for pneumonia

JOHANNESBURG: Nelson will not stand down Mandela was comfortable and breathing without difficulty on ROME: Italian President He said he would ask two small his third day in hospital after the Giorgio Napolitano yesterday groups of experts to formulate anti-apartheid hero was treated ruled out standing down early proposals for institutional and for pneumonia, South Africa’s to make way for new parlia- social and economic reforms that presidency said yesterday. mentary elections, following the could be supported by all political Messages of concern for the ail- failure of attempts to form a parties. But he acknowledged that ing 94-year-old, one of the tow- government this week. he had limited scope to force the ering figures of modern history, Napolitano, whose term ends divided parties to find a way out have poured in since his admis- on May 15, spoke after news of political situation that he said sion late Wednesday for what reports suggested he might resign was “frozen between irreconcil- was confirmed as “a recurrence to get around constitutional pro- able positions”. of pneumonia”. visions which prevent a president Napolitano met leaders of the Mandela had a build-up of fluid dissolving parliament and calling main parties on Friday to try to that had developed from a lung elections in the final months of find a way out of the stalemate, infection, known as a pleural his mandate. which has created deep uncer- effusion or “water on the lungs”, The 87-year-old told reporters tainty just as the Cyprus banking drained from his chest. “This has he would continue his efforts to crisis has revived fears about the resulted in him now being able to break the deadlock since incon- stability of the eurozone. breathe without difficulty,” said clusive elections last month that However with all of the three President Jacob Zuma’s office said left no group able to form a gov- main groups in parliament clinging in a statement. “He continues to ernment. “I will continue until the to entrenched positions that have respond to treatment and is com- last day of my mandate to do as prevented a majority being formed fortable.” There were no details A first aid worker stands on a car at the site of a pile-up on the A9 motorway near Chexbres, Switzerland, my sense of national responsibil- in parliament, hopes of a solution on how long he would remain at yesterday. About 50 cars were involved in the pile-up but no one was seriously injured. ity suggests, without hiding from that would prevent the need to go an undisclosed hospital. the country the difficulties that I back to the polls have faded. AFP am still facing,” he said. REUTERS SUNDAY 31 MARCH 2013 ASIA / PHILIPPINES www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 15 N Korea declares ‘state of war’ with South Seoul and Washington play down declaration; Pyongyang threatens to close down industrial zone

SEOUL: North Korea said yes- “North Korea’s statement Russia, which has often bal- terday it was entering a “state today ... is not a new threat but anced criticism of North Korea, a of war” with South Korea, but is the continuation of provocative Soviet-era client state, with calls Seoul and its ally the United threats,” the South’s Unification on the United States and South States played down the state- Ministry, which handles politi- Korea to refrain from belligerent ment as tough talk. cal ties with the North, said in a actions, said a recurrence of war Pyongyang also threatened to statement. was unacceptable. close a border industrial zone, the On Friday, Kim signed an order “We hope that all parties will last remaining example of inter- putting the North’s missile units exercise maximum responsibil- Korean cooperation which gives on standby to attack US military ity and restraint and no-one will the impoverished North access to bases in South Korea and the cross the point of no return,” $2bn in trade a year. Pacific, after the United States Grigory Logvinov, a senior The United States said it took flew two nuclear-capable stealth Russian Foreign Ministry official, Pyongyang’s threats seriously but bombers over the Korean penin- told Interfax news agency. cautioned that the North had sula in a rare show of force. France said it was deeply a history of bellicose rhetoric. US officials described the flight worried about the situation on Russia, another a permanent UN as a diplomatic sortie aimed at the Korean peninsula while Security Council member, urged reassuring allies South Korea Nato Deputy Secretary General all sides to show restraint. and Japan, and at trying to nudge Alexander Vershbow said the Tensions have been high since Pyongyang back to nuclear talks, alliance hoped “that this is more the North’s new young leader Kim though there was no guarantee posturing than a prelude to any Jong-un ordered a third nuclear Kim Jong-un would get the mes- armed hostilities.” weapons test in February, breach- sage as intended. China has repeatedly called for ing UN sanctions and ignoring The two Koreas have been restraint on the peninsula. warnings from North Korea’s sole technically in a state of war since The North has been threat- major ally, China, not to do so. a truce that ended their 1950- ening to attack the South and “From this time on, the North- 53 conflict. Despite its threats, US military bases almost on a South relations will be entering few people see any indication daily basis since the beginning the state of war and all issues Pyongyang will risk a near-cer- of March, when US and South A gathering at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang to support the statement of the Supreme Command of the North raised between the North and the tain defeat by re-starting full- Korean militaries started routine Korean Army and to win the battle against the US and South Korea, on Friday. South will be handled accordingly,” scale war. drills that have been conducted a statement carried by the North’s There was no sign of unusual for decades without incident. official KCNA news agency said. activity in the North’s military to Many in the South have The Kaesong zone is a vital agency that operates Kaesong as tensions with the South, only to KCNA said the statement was suggest an imminent aggression, regarded the North’s willingness source of hard currency for the saying in a statement. let it resume operations later. issued jointly by the North’s gov- a South Korean defence ministry to keep open the Kaesong indus- North. Closure could trap hundreds of North Korea has cancelled an ernment, ruling party and other official said. trial zone, located just a few miles “If the puppet traitor group South Korean workers and man- armistice agreement with the organisations. White House National Security north of the heavily-militarised continues to mention the Kaesong agers of the more than 100 firms United States that ended the The Seoul government said Council spokeswoman Caitlin border, as a sign that Pyongyang industrial zone is being kept oper- that have factories there. Korean War and cut all hot- there was nothing in the North’s Hayden said North Korea’s will not risk losing a lucrative ating and damages our dignity, it The North has previously sus- lines with US forces, the United latest statement to cause particu- announcement followed a “famil- source of foreign currency by will be mercilessly shut off and pended operations at the factory Nations and South Korea. lar alarm. iar pattern” of rhetoric. mounting a real act of aggression. shut down,” KCNA quoted an zone at the height of political REUTERS

Japan seeks Death toll in Myanmar 5,000 Filipinos flee Sabah unrest Mongolia support MANILA: Almost 5,000 arrivals, said the total was likely some of them armed, arrived in in island row violence reaches 43 Filipinos have fled the Malaysian to be higher as many would have Sabah in February in an attempt state of Sabah since security returned without registering. to claim the Malaysian state for ULAN BATOR: Japanese YANGON: The death toll from the official death toll stood at 40. forces launched an offensive to “They arrive on small vessels. the sultanate, reviving a centu- Prime Minister Shinzo Abe recent communal violence in The head of the Organisation of root out Islamic invaders loyal Some of them disembark with- ries-old territorial row. sought support from Mongolia central Myanmar has risen to Islamic Cooperation said yesterday to an obscure Philippine sul- out registering and they are met The incursion and a Malaysian yesterday in Tokyo’s territorial 43 with more than 1,300 homes that a contact committee of OIC tan, a government agency said by relatives. We cannot detain counter-assault has left more row with Beijing over disputed and other buildings destroyed, foreign ministers would gather yesterday. them,” he said, adding that it was than 60 militants dead along East China Sea islands, during state media reported yesterday. in the Red Sea port of Jeddah in The Philippine National not know if any of the invaders with 10 security personnel, a visit to the country. Sixty-eight people have been Saudi Arabia on April 14 to discuss Disaster Risk Reduction and were amongst those fleeing. according to Malaysian authori- Abe arrived in the Mongolian arrested in connection with the the violence against Muslims in Management Council said it had The Filipinos began arriving ties, and strained relations with capital Ulan Bator seeking closer Buddhist-Muslim unrest, which Myanmar. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu recorded 4,983 adults and chil- in early March after clashes Manila. trade and diplomatic ties with the has left 11,376 people homeless, addressed a contact group meet- dren who had arrived in the south broke out between Malaysian Philippine President Benigno mineral-rich nation, a potentially the New Light of Myanmar news- ing on the violence and said the of the archipelago after fleeing forces and followers of the self- Aquino has previously expressed important strategic partner due paper reported. organisation was “ready to take all Sabah due to the ongoing fighting. declared Sultan of Sulu, Jamalul concern that the unrest in Sabah to its location on China’s northern In total, 163 incidences of vio- necessary measures and actions to Paslur Abdullah, executive Kiram III who claims Sabah as might displace the estimated border and diplomatic ties with lence have been reported in 15 deal with it”. director of the government cen- his territory. 800,000 Filipinos working there. North Korea. townships, it added. Previously AFP tre in charge of caring for the new Some 200 followers of Kiram, AFP “I asked for Mongolian support relating to the Chinese situation and Mongolia expressed its under- Patrol ship standing of the Japanese position,” Abe said in response to questions from journalists about the islands US Navy ship removed Japan claims as the Senkakus and China as the Diaoyus. from Philippine reef Taiwan leader’s confidant held MANILA: Salvage teams yes- remain in the area. After the TAIPEI: A Taiwanese politi- terday removed the last piece lifting, they will clear the area cian known for her close ties of a US Navy ship that was of debris. It will take three days with the president has been stuck on a UNESCO World maximum,” Jude said. taken into custody on suspected Heritage-listed coral reef in the The minesweeper ran aground corruption, a court said yester- Philippines for more than 10 on Tubbataha in a remote part day, in the latest graft scandal weeks, the coast guard said. of the Sulu Sea on January 17, to hit the island. The stern of the USS Guardian damaging a section of the reef, Lai Su-ju, a member of the was lifted off the Tubbataha a UNESCO World Heritage site Taipei City Council, was detained Reef after the 68-metre ves- known for its rich marine life. on the grounds that she could sel was sliced into portions for The US government has apolo- collude with witnesses and other easier removal, Philippine coast gised for the accident, which it suspects in the case to cover up guard spokeswoman Lieutenant initially blamed on faulty maps. the alleged crime, the Taipei dis- Greanata Jude said. The Philippines said it would trict court said in a statement. Bad weather had earlier delayed impose fines. According to the court, Lai has the recovery operations but once Due to fears that towing it to admitted to accepting Tw$1m the skies cleared, a salvage ship deeper waters would inflict more ($33,500) from a businessman used a huge crane to lift the bow, damage on the reef, the US govern- but claimed that it was a politi- the deck, the funnel and other ment agreed to scrap and disman- cal donation rather than a bribe pieces of the ship off the reef. tle the Guardian, which was worth in connection with a construction Taiwan Coast Guard honour guard marches in front of a new patrol ship named "Hsun-hu Number 8" during “The salvage ship will still about $277m. AFP project in the capital Taipei. a commissioning ceremony in the port of Taiwan, yesterday. Rodwell abductors to face charges Bomb kills two Thai Four held over Lanka anti-Muslim attack MANILA: The Philippine National Police (PNP) said COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s police a CCTV camera of the store by be no repetition of such violent criminal charges will be filed arrested four people and were throwing a stone at it while those attacks on innocent civilians against those behind the kid- military rangers looking for more suspects yes- in the crowd clapped. The clip and establishments to disturb napping of Australian Warren terday over the smashing of a was also posted on the website peaceful co-existence within Sri Rodwell, who was released by Muslim-owned clothing store YouTube. Lanka,” the company said in a his captors after his family BANGKOK: A roadside bomb soldier and wounded 14 others in that raised religious tensions in However, there were no statement. reportedly paid P4m in ransom. and gun attack killed two Thai neighbouring Narathiwat province. the country, a spokesman said. monks among those in custody, Sri Lanka stepped up security PNP chief Director General military rangers and wounded Several shadowy groups are Police Superintendent Siriwardena said, but added at the weekend after Thursday’s Alan Purisima said the Anti- four others yesterday, police waging an insurgency in Thailand’s Buddhika Siriwardena said a that the four men arrested were violence which the main Muslim Kidnapping Group is conducting said, two days after the country southernmost Muslim-majority search was under way for those Buddhists from the majority political party in the ruling coa- a thorough investigation for the held its first formal peace talks provinces bordering Malaysia that who torched and vandalised a Sinhalese community. lition said was a “sequel” to an filing of criminal charges against with Muslim rebels. has claimed more than 5,500 lives section of the three-storeyed The owners of the clothing ongoing hate campaign against the people behind the kidnapping The paramilitaries were on their over the past nine years. clothing store and warehouse on store, which maintains a chain of minority Muslims. of Rodwell, who was held hostage way to attend a colleague’s funeral Thailand’s government held Thursday night in the Papiliyana upmarket shops across the coun- Siriwardena said there had for 15 months. “We are investigat- in Pattani province when suspected a one-day meeting with repre- suburb of Colombo. try, said their main warehouse been no fresh reports of unrest ing this case, we have identified militants detonated the bomb sentatives of the Barisan Revolusi Local media video footage and head office suffered exten- from any part of the country and some people and we will be filing — hidden in a motorcycle — and Nasional insurgent group in showed at least one man in saf- sive damage in Thursday’s “totally the situation had been quickly cases against these people.” launched a gun attack, police said. Malaysia’s capital last Thursday. fron robes, typically worn by unprovoked” attack. brought under control. AGENCIES & On Friday, a bomb had killed a AFP Buddhist monks, bringing down “We sincerely hope there will AFP PHILIPPINE STAR SUNDAY 31 MARCH 2013 16 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com PAKISTAN / AFGHANISTAN Troubled area transferred to Afghan control US special forces hand over charge of Nirkh district in Wardak province, ending dispute over alleged abuse KABUL: Afghan special forces took transitioned Nirkh district to Afghan are integral in the defence of Wardak culminate (handover) an area, we’ll bring more remote, Taliban strongholds that control of part of a troubled province national security forces and they have from now until the foreseeable future,” the teams out,” Thomas said. are beyond the geographic range of the bordering Kabul from US troops yes- now assumed full responsibility for secu- Thomas said in the interview at Camp “More importantly, we’re setting conventional Afghan army and regular terday, ending a weeks-long dispute rity,” US General Joseph Dunford, the top Integrity, the special operations com- up ... training centres that are run by uniformed police. over abuse allegations that prompted commander of American and Nato forces pound on the outskirts of Kabul. Afghans,” Thomas said. “We’re working Afghan and coalition officials say the Afghan President Hamid Karzai to in Afghanistan, said in a statement. He The Afghan president had originally ourselves out of a job.” back-country policemen have so eroded order all American forces out of the said the rest of Wardak would transition demanded the US special operations Currently, US special operations teams militant influence that they’ve become a area. “over time.” forces pull out of the entire province, but go into an area, get to know the pow- top target for the Taliban. The bounty for The handover highlighted the Karzai Karzai has had longstanding unease he scaled down his sweeping demand to erbrokers and tribesmen and then help killing a local policeman is $6,000 com- government’s struggle to assert its with US special operations forces, which just Nirkh district after negotiations with train Afghan men selected by the locals. pared to $4,000 for a regular, uniformed authority over security matters on he blames for causing civilian casualties, Dunford and other US officials. To join the Afghan local police, also policeman and $2,000 for an Afghan army an accelerated timetable ahead of the and the 21,000 members of the Afghan US officials feared Karzai was close called the “ALP,” recruits drawn from soldier, one Afghan official said. He spoke scheduled withdrawal of most of coali- local police who work with them. He has to banning US special operations teams the local villages must be vouched for on condition of anonymity because he was tion forces by December 2014. complained bitterly and publicly that the altogether when he declared earlier this by village elders and then vetted by the not authorised to disclose the information. The transfer of control in Nirkh dis- local police are “militias” and believes year, while standing next to President Interior Ministry, including a background The units are so popular with local trict of Wardak province — a gateway they are “outside his control,” according Barack Obama in Washington, that all check by Afghan intelligence to rule out security officials that Thomas has more and staging area for militant attacks on to his spokesman Aimal Faizi. American forces would be out of Afghan prior participation with the Taliban. If requests to start new units than he can the capital — ends a rocky episode in the US special operations forces will con- villages by spring. Karzai was eventually approved, they get rudimentary training fill. The Afghan interior ministry also strained relationship between the US and tinue to visit the Afghan team in Nirkh, convinced to accept a more gradual tran- on weapons safety and basic police skills has asked the US to consider expanding Karzai. The Afghan president had angrily and work throughout the rest of the sition for the country overall, just as he and military tactics from the US special the local police force by another 45,000 insisted that US forces leave Nirkh over province, Major General Tony Thomas, was with Wardak, with US special opera- operations forces partnered with them. troops. Thomas said he now has to do his the alleged torture, kidnapping and sum- the top US special operations commander tions forces leaving the villages sometime The combined US and Afghan forces own analysis for Dunford, to determine if mary execution of militant suspects there in Afghanistan, said in an interview this summer. are stationed at posts throughout the coalition can afford to fund them and — charges US officials firmly denied. yesterday. “The last teams will go in this sum- Afghanistan intended to extend security if Afghanistan needs that many. “As we pledged, our forces have “American special operations forces mer and from that point out, when we and Afghan government influence to AP Nato air strike kills two children in Afghanistan BRIEFLY

GHAZNI: A Nato helicopter reported civilian casualties and be another blow to the prestige strike killed two children in was seeking further information. of US-led Nato forces as they southern Afghanistan yester- However he added that the prepare to withdraw combat day, officials said, in the latest ISAF helicopter engagement was troops from the war against the civilian casualties to beset the not in direct support of Afghan Islamist insurgents by the end of coalition’s war against Taliban forces, without giving further next year. Suicide attack militants. details. Air strikes by the US-led coa- The operation close to Ghazni It was unclear who called in the lition killed 126 Afghan civilians kills policeman city was conducted after local air strike, but President Hamid last year, a nearly 50 percent drop people complained of a Taliban Karzai recently banned Afghan from the year before, according to in Pakistan post targeting traffic convoys in forces from requesting foreign air a recent UN report. PESHAWAR: A suicide the area, Mohammad Ali Ahmadi, support. The overall civilian death toll bomber yesterday struck a the deputy governor of Ghazni Civilian casualties mostly in 2012 also declined some 12 per- police patrol in a town in province, said. caused by air strikes have been cent to 2,754, compared with 3,131 northwestern Pakistan, kill- “It was a joint (Afghan and coa- one of the most sensitive issues the previous year, according to ing a policeman and wounding lition) operation conducted this in relations between Karzai and the annual report by the United six others. The bombing took morning that killed nine Taliban. the Nato-led military. Nations Mission to Afghanistan. place at a market in Katalang, Unfortunately, two school chil- The civilians were riding in Four civilians, including a child, 50 kilometres north-east dren were also killed and seven two vehicles near the Taliban were killed in a two-day raid of Peshawar, the capital of other civilians were wounded,” post when the attack took place, against Taliban insurgents by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa prov- he said. Mohammad Hassan Hadil, the Afghan and international forces Afghan police inspect wreckage of vehicles which were destroyed in an ince. “A policeman was killed A spokesman for the Nato’s deputy police chief of the prov- in Logar province earlier this alleged Nato air strike in Esfandeh village in Ghazni province, Afghanistan, and two other policemen International Security Assistance ince, said. week. yesterday. were wounded when a suicide Force said it was aware of the The deaths, if confirmed, would AFP bomber blew himself up close to a police patrol car,” sen- ior police official Shafi Ullah said. Four civilians were also wounded in the bombing. Gunmen attack Pakistan Tough times ahead for Musharraf Govt to borrow ISLAMABAD: Pakistan officials of his force yesterday. and decided to hold the same on $13bn in Q4 Army has distanced itself from The police have decided to pro- his arrival. General Musharraf school, killing principal the activities of former presi- vide the former president two has kept his schedule secret. KARACHI: The government dent Pervez Musharraf since vehicles for security purposes He might change his pro- has announced it will borrow KARACHI: Gunmen yester- The gunmen fled on motorbikes his return. The chief spokes- during his movements in the fed- gramme at the eleventh hour in Rs1.3 trillion ($13.26bn) from day hurled a firecracker and and nobody has claimed responsi- man of the Army, General eral capital and they will also put the face of protest and threats the banking system in the opened fire at a primary school bility for the attack, Shaukat said, Asim Salim Bajwa, when con- up a picket at his residence dur- from some extremist groups. last quarter of this fiscal. The in the southern Pakistani city adding that police had started an tacted last evening, declined ing his stay. Islamabad Police have auction calendar of market of Karachi, killing its principal investigation. to give the army’s reaction to It is understood that Musharraf urged the interior ministry to treasury bills was announced and wounding eight children, The attack took place in the developments with regard to will stay here for about a week, depute Rangers and Frontier yesterday, and it gives details police said. low-income Ittehad Town neigh- Musharraf. during which he will file his nomi- Constabulary at his residence of the auctions, with the total The children were aged bourhood of Karachi — a port city No serving or former senior nation papers, besides having con- during his stay in Islamabad. auctioned amount at Rs1.325 between five and ten while the of 18 million people plagued by officer of the armed forces or sen- sultations with his close aides to The commissioner of the fed- trillion. The State Bank’s headmaster was a member of murders, kidnappings and politi- ior bureaucrat will be meeting the deal with the criminal cases in eral capital territory, Syed Tariq data show that until March the Awami National Party, which cally linked violence. former president during his stay which he has been implicated. Pirzada, will take the final deci- 15 the government had bor- consists mainly of ethnic Pashtun Pakistan is due to hold elec- in Islamabad. Musharraf faces threats from sion in this regard today. rowed Rs778bn from sched- migrants from the country’s tions in May but a surge in vio- Meanwhile, Islamabad Police students of various seminaries It has been decided that no uled banks. north-west, police added. lent sectarian attacks against have declined to provide person- who have planned a big protest route supervision would be put “The principal of the pri- minority Shia Muslims, including nel for setting up two security when he lands at the Islamabad in place during the movements GI Joe movie vate school was killed and eight a huge bombing in Karachi ear- cordons at Musharraf’s Chak airport. of the former president and children were wounded when lier this month which killed 50 Shehzad residence. The angry students, who no security personnel will be sequel banned unknown gunmen fired at school people, has raised concerns over Islamabad Police chief gathered here after yesterday’s deployed inside the residence of gate and threw a cracker inside security during the polls. Muhammad Bin Yamin prayers for a protest rally against the former general. LAHORE: The latest instal- the school,” a police official said. AFP chaired a meeting of senior the general, postponed their plan INTERNEWS ment of the Hollywood film franchise GI Joe has been banned in Pakistan for its negative portrayal of the country, according to the Central Board of Film Censors. Officials in the cen- Facing disqualification, sor board said there was no chance the sequel, titled GI Joe: Retaliation would make former MPs pay bills it through the censors. It depicts Pakistan as an unsta- ble state where terrorists are ISLAMABAD: With the last the list of defaulters, but a press on the verge of seizing the date for submission of nomi- release issued on March 5 by the country’s nuclear assets. nation papers expiring today, National Assembly Secretariat former members of Pakistan’s had stated that Pakistan Works 240,000 kids National Assembly living in Department was responsible for Parliamentary Lodges seem to non-payment of outstanding bills. miss polio drive be rushing to pay their elec- They said the members had also tricity bills as Rs11m has been paid Rs1.2m for servant quarters ISLAMABAD: Some deposited with Islamabad out of total dues of Rs3.5m, and 240,000 children have missed Electric Supply Company many more were in touch with UN-backed vaccinations (Iesco) in the last couple of days, the department concerned to pay against polio because of secu- out of total outstanding dues of the remaining dues. rity concerns in Pakistan’s Rs23m, sources said yesterday. Similarly, gas bills worth Rs4m tribal regions bordering The sources said many ex- have been paid by the members in Afghanistan, a top offi- members of parliament, includ- the past few days. cial with the World Health ing Dr Ayatullah Durrani The nomination papers of any Organisation has said. (Rs.106,314), Moulana Malik person can be rejected if he/she Dr Nima Saeed Abid, the Wazeer (Rs12,635) and Roshan has defaulted on paying gov- acting WHO chief in Pakistan, Din Jonejo (Rs185,753) had paid ernment dues or public utility said health workers had not their electricity bills. charges including electricity, gas, been able to immunise chil- They said the Speaker of the telephone and water bills exceed- dren in the North and South National Assembly, Dr Fehmida ing Rs10,000 for over six months Waziristan regions — Taliban A Pakistani election commission worker packs documents for polling stations for the general election, in Lahore, Mirza (Rs338,952) and Deputy at the time of filing nomination strongholds — since July 2012. yesterday. Speaker Faisal Karim Kundi papers. AGENCIES (Rs349,419) were also named in INTERNEWS SUNDAY 31 MARCH 2013 INDIA www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 17

Leopard in ‘custody’ Don’t panic No issues with over Saudi situation, says Centre over Kerala CM

KOCHI: Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy yesterday said that given the diplomatic Shah: Omar and trade relations with Saudi Arabia, people from the state in that country and their kin back ‘Rehabilitation policy didn’t work’ home have little cause for worry. “At the moment, there is no NEW DELHI: Jammu and Kashmir to return home and cause for panic over the labour Kashmir’s policy to rehabili- live a normal life after abjuring issues in Saudi Arabia. We are tate surrendered militants did violence. confident that on account of the not work in the case of Sayyed Under this policy, over 200 excellent diplomatic and trade Liyaqat Ali Shah but the state former militants have returned, relations that we have with Saudi was not at loggerheads with most of them with their families. Arabia, things can be sorted out,” the central government on the Most of the surrendered militants Chandy told reporters at a hur- issue, Chief Minister Omar have Pakistani spouses who also riedly called press conference. Abdullah said yesterday. chose to come to Kashmir along Chandy is leaving for Delhi on The Jammu and Kashmir Police with their husbands and children. Tuesday to brief Prime Minister had earlier said that Shah was The state government claims Manmohan Singh and the exter- returning home to the Kashmir that these former militants have nal affairs ministry on the new Valley via Nepal from Pakistan been given monetary incentives developments in Saudi Arabia. last week to surrender under the and provided security cover, but Saudi Arabia has started to rehabilitation policy but Delhi the “beneficiaries” deny this. implement a new labour law that Police arrested him for planning Abdullah also downplayed came into effect November last, a terrorist strike. Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam and specifies that every business “In this instance the policy Singh Yadav’s Third Front sug- establishment should have a cer- has not worked. But you have to gestions and said the National tain percentage of Saudi nationals. put it into perspective,” Omar Conference (NC) and the “We are working out schemes, told CNN-IBN channel in an Congress would decide on their and all assistance will be pro- interview. alliance for 2014. vided to those people who have “Given the complete divergent “I’ve no idea on what Mulayam to return in the light of the new point of view of Delhi Police and Singh Yadavji is predicting that policy there,” Chandy said. Jammu and Kashmir Police, we but I will not go with that. We According to the annual report needed an objective organisation have to wait for the electoral of the Ministry of Overseas Indian to look into the facts and tell us results to see,” said Omar. Affairs, Saudi Arabia continues to the truth behind the whole mat- “It’s for both the NC and the be a desired destination among low- ter,” he said. Congress to decide (on their alli- and semi-skilled workers from India, Abdullah denied the state was ance). The NC has authorised attracting 289,297 people in 2011. at loggerheads with the centre on its president Farooq Abdullah to In 2011, 2.28 million Keralites the issue. take a final view on this. It will were working abroad. The number “I don’t think so. It’s Delhi require some discussion between was 2.19 million in 2008, 1.84 mil- Police and Jammu and Kashmir him and the Congress high com- lion in 2003 and 1.36 million in 1998. Police that have given divergent mand,” he said. Meanwhile, opposition Communist views. The government of India According to Abdullah, the Party of India-Marxist has said that has not taken a position on this. central government’s decision not the government had not planned They have done the right thing to return the body of parliament in advance, despite being aware of by handing it over to the NIA. attack convict Afzal Guru, who the new policy that took effect six We are not on cross-purposes was hanged and buried in Tihar months ago. “This government has with the centre on this,” he jail in February was unfortunate. been sleeping over this issue and said. “I think it’s unfortunate. they never took any positive steps The state government Having hanged him and the way to come to the help of the workers announced an ambitious rehabili- we did, having denied his family a who would have to return all of a tation policy in 2010 to encourage final meeting...,” said Omar. Forest guards carry a fully grown leopard after tranquillising it in a residential area near Kalipur in Guwahati sudden,” said a CPM leader. Kashmiri youth living in Pakistani IANS yesterday. The leopard was wandering through a part of the densely populated city when curious crowds IANS startled the animal, a wildlife official said.

BJP begins candidate Laparoscopic surgery for diabetes control catching up HYDERABAD: Laparoscopic Paula 10 years ago, a part of stom- surgeries, told reporters here government surgeons so that the surgery is free from side-effects, ileal interposition surgery or ach is removed, a long segment Friday that Alper Celik, a surgeon government hospitals can offer Ugale said it caters to the require- selection for the small intestinal switch for of the last part of small bowel trained by him, has so far per- this treatment free of cost. ments of Indian diabetic patients, the control of type 2 diabetes (ileum) is cut and joined very formed 150 surgeries in Istanbul. He also wants the insurance 60 to 80 percent of whom are not Karnataka poll is catching up with more coun- close to the stomach. He said several Gulf coun- companies to extend their sup- obese. tries showing interest in adopt- After a patient undergoes the tries, including the UAE, were port considering the fact that He attributed lack of aware- BANGALORE: Karnataka’s ing the advance technique, said surgery, undigested food first taking interest in the technique. diabetes is more dangerous than ness among people and the ruling BJP yesterday began laparoscopic surgeon Surendra enters ileum to stimulate the He plans to train surgeons in even heart problems. He pointed tendency among surgeons to district-wise candidate selec- Ugale. increased secretion of a hormone Australia next month. Three out that mortality rate due to look for shortcuts rather than tion for the May 5 assembly poll Ugale of Kirloskar Hospital, called GLP-I, which in turn patients including Ugale’s wife diabetes and obesity is increas- learning an advanced technique while the Congress continued who is the pioneer of this tech- stimulates beta cells in pancreas Meena Ugale, a gynaecologist, ing across the world. for the metabolic surgery not its exercise for the sixth day in nique in India, hopes increasing to secrete increased amounts of shared their experiences at the Ugale explained that the met- becoming popular during last New Delhi. awareness about an alternative insulin. press conference. They no longer abolic surgery is different from one decade. State BJP President Pralhad available to control diabetes would The team led by Ugale, who depend on medication and the bariatric surgery. While bariat- He believes that the tech- Joshi, Chief Minister Jagadish make it popular around the world. learnt the technique from Paula, surgery also helped them control ric surgeries are done to control nique offers an ideal solution Shettar and other senior state A team of doctors led by Ugale has performed 250 surgeries dur- their weight. obesity, they were not free from to India, which has 62 million party leaders along with a is performing ileal tnterposition ing last five years with 90 to 95 The surgery costs Rs400,000. side-effects like malabsorption, diabetic. The World Health Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (also known as metabolic surgery) percent remission rate (patients Ugale said if the government malnutrition and recurrence of Organisation (WHO) has esti- representative are holding meet- at select centres in Hyderabad, who don’t depend on medicines reduces duty on the advanced diabetes as the various proce- mated that the economic bur- ings in Bangalore with district Kolkata and Istanbul (Turkey). after the surgery). equipment used for the surgery, dures are meant for weight loss den of diabetes on India would unit heads. Under the technique pioneered Ugale, the second surgeon in this could bring down the cost. and not for diabetes. be $350bn by 2020. “We are meeting our district by Brazilian surgeon Aureo de the world to perform metabolic He also offered to train Claiming that metabolic IANS unit leaders to select the can- didates,” Shettar told reporters ahead of the meeting. The state has 30 districts and Hailstorm in Shimla elections are to be held for 224 seats in the 225-member assem- Indians vote like cattle: bly that includes one nominated member. Shettar declined to indi- cate when the names would be Markandey Katju announced, though several state leaders had said that it would be NEW DELHI: India is not a credentials, Katju said that he in April’s first week. full-fledged democracy as 90 per- was against communal forces and Indications are that all par- cent of its people vote like sheep “by being secular, if I am branded ties — the BJP, the Congress, the and cattle, Press Council of India a Congressman, you are entitled Janata Dal-Secular and new out- chairman Justice Markandey to your view”. fit Karnataka Janata Party (KJP) Katju said here yesterday. Katju has been in news for headed by former BJP leader B S Speaking to TV channel seeking a pardon for actor Yeddyurappa, would release most Headlines Today, Katju said: Sanjay Dutt and Zaibunnisa Kazi, of the names only after nomina- “Ninety percent Indians vote in charged with illegal possession of tion process start on April 10. The droves like sheep and cattle. They arms in the 1993 Mumbai serial nominations close on April 17. are like a herd of cattle voting blasts case by the Supreme Court. This is to minimise rebel candi- along caste and religious lines.” Katju has argued that Dutt dates in the field as many of those “Because Indians vote like live- stacked the weapons for self defence denied tickets jump into the elec- stock, there are so many crimi- and to protect his family from the toral battle as independents denting nals in parliament,” he added. threats that they were getting in the prospects of the official nominee. The former Supreme Court the aftermath of the Babri demo- So far only KJP has released judge said that he would not vote lition. “Sanjay Dutt is a shattered the names of candidates for 69 as India was being run by lead- man. He has suffered enough but seats. Congress’ central and state ers elected on the basis of their he has reformed,” he said. leaders have been grappling with caste, which is not the true form Katju said that he was pre- the candidate selection from of democracy. pared to seek pardons for other Monday in New Delhi. “I won’t vote because my vote is stars, Saif Ali Khan and Salman State Congress president G meaningless. Votes are cast in the Khan, who have been charged for Parameshwara and other leaders name of Jats, Muslims, Yadavs or killing endangered blackbucks in have been in the national capital Harijans. Democracy is not meant Jodhpur. “I will study their cases since Monday having discussions P edestrians walk during a heavy hailstorm in the northern hill town of Shimla on Friday. A severe thunder- to be run like this. Why should I and if I am satisfied that I should with central leaders to finales the storm accompanied by heavy showers lashed Shimla and its adjoining hills while higher reaches received waste my time in joining the cat- speak out, I will surely plead their names from over 2,000 aspirants. fresh snowfall. tle queue?” he said. case,” he said. IANS Boasting of his secular IANS SUNDAY 31 MARCH 2013 18 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com INDIA Former Odisha law minister in judicial custody Bail plea verdict on Tuesday

BHUBANESWAR: Former Director General of Police B.K. Odisha law minister Raghunath Sharma, the Mohanty couple had Mohanty and his wife Pritilata rented an apartment in Kolkata Mohanty were yesterday and were hiding there. remanded to judicial custody, “They were arrested around hours after they were arrested 3.30am today (Saturday)” Sharma for allegedly torturing their said. Raghunath, 64, is a five-time daughter-in-law for dowry, his legislator from Basta constitu- lawyer said. ency in Balasore district. He had The couple were presented remained incommunicado ever before the court of a sub-divi- since he resigned from the state sional judicial magistrate at the cabinet March 15, a day after his district headquarters town of daughter-in-law accused him of Balasore. They were remanded to torturing her for dowry. judicial custody till April 2, lawyer Raghunath was holding the Gouri Kumar Barik said. portfolios of urban development, The court concluded its hearing law and information technology. on the bail plea moved by the cou- In her police complaint, the victim ple and fixed April 2 to announce — Barsa Swony Choudhury — alleged its verdict on the matter, he said. March 14 that she was physically Meanwhile, BJD president and and mentally tortured by her hus- Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik band Raja Shree, 24, ever since she Anna Hazare speaks during a press conference in Amritsar yesterday. removed Raghunath as the party’s married to him in June 2012. vice president. She alleged that her father-in- The opposition Congress said law Raghunath, mother-in-law the former minister and his fam- Pritilata, sister-in-law Rupashree Hazare begins nationwide tour today ily should be tried in a fast-track and other family members were court. “This will send out a strong also involved in the crime. message that no one is above the She claimed that her parents MUMBAI: Anna Hazare will In these three states, the a hunger strike in Mumbai in corruption at the grassroots law, besides restoring the dignity had given Rs.10 lakh at the time embark on a year-long, all-India 75-year old Hazare is scheduled December. level. of women who suffer violence in of the marriage, as was demanded, tour from today to campaign for to address meetings in at least After completing the three The tour, which was expected and outside their homes,” state but the Mohanty’s insisted on a stronger Lokpal bill, electoral three dozen cities and towns, cul- states and a short break, he will to start January, was postponed Congress president Niranjan Rs2.5m more and a multi-utility reforms and other issues he has minating in Haridwar on April then go on to the second leg of on account of his frail health, Patnaik said. vehicle. been raising for the past few 17. his tour, covering Rajasthan, an eye surgery and other prior Raghunath and his wife Raja Shree Mohanty was years, an aide said in Mumbai The new movement comes Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand, commitments. The plans for the Pritilata were arrested from arrested after a public outcry and yesterday. exactly two years after Hazare the dates of which are being tour were finalized at a meet- Kolkata Saturday, nearly a fort- protests by angry opposition par- The first phase of the nation- had gone on a hunger strike finalised. ing of experts and advisors he night after their 28-year-old son ties. He was remanded to a 14-day wide tour, planned since a year, against corruption in New During the tour, Hazare will had convened last October in his Raja Shree Mohanty was arrested judicial custody a day later after will kick off from Amritsar in Delhi April 2011, followed by also work for forming a nation- native village, Ralegan-Siddhi in March 17, in the same case. his bail plea was rejected. Punjab, and then to Haryana and a similar agitation in August wide organisation of individuals, Ahmadnagar district. According to Additional IANS Uttaranchal. that year and culminating with social groups and NGOs fighting IANS Film promotion Beni Prasad Verma anticipates Samajwadi Party’s demise

LUCKNOW: The relation- seats in the elections, and that minister comes at a time when ship between the Samajwadi too only because you need at least ties between the two parties have Party (SP) and the Congress so many people to carry a body,” touched rock bottom, with Prime was rocked yet again yesterday he told a crowd, which appeared Minister Manmohan Singh as union Steel Minister Beni to love every word the minister acknowledging the possibility of Prasad Verma predicted that uttered against a party that, at the SP withdrawing support from the SP would not win more than one time, he was himself a mem- his government; the SP chief has four seats in Lok Sabha polls ber of. called Congress a party of liars 2014. Verma also predicted that the and cheats. Addressing a gathering of sup- Congress would win 40 of the 80 Reacting to the statement of porters at a “Holi Milan” pro- Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh, Beni Prasad Verma, senior SP gramme in Balrampur, about and that the Bahujan Samaj Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav how- 150km from the state capital, (BSP) would end up with 36 seats, ever said that he “understood the minister said that the SP an increase of over 15 seats from the frustration of Verma as SP “will have its funeral” after the its existing 21. candidates had caused the loss Lok Sabha polls; and it needed The Kurmi leader also said of many candidates close to just four persons to carry a dead that the Bharatiya Janata Party him.” body, Verma said. (BJP) would be contained at 10 He also clarified that as far as Only days ago, Verma had seats, leaving room for just four the SP was concerned, the state- alleged that SP supremo Mulayam seats for the SP, which rules the ments of Beni Prasad Verma were Singh Yadav had links with ter- state. now not being seen as the official rorists, and was extracting com- The union minister seems to stand of Congress. mission in lieu of his party’s have got his arithmetic some- Despite the “political maturity” support to the United Progressive what amiss — there are 80, not displayed by the SP Saturday, Alliance (UPA) government at 90 — Lok Sabha seats from Uttar there are fears that the peace the centre. Pradesh. would not last. Bollywood actors Mukul Dev, Jaaved Jaffrei and Sharman Joshi with actress Soha Ali Khan (second right) at “The party will win only four The statement of the IANS a press conference for the forthcoming film War Chod Na Yaar in Mumbai. NRIs to continue to depend on bank deposits for safe returns

HERE has been a fair amount useful for analysing economic structure, Altough though the currency has fully repatriable. of uncertainty regarding the studying the relationship to domestic THE NR EYE appreciated from its all-time low, inflows According to recent media reports, internal and external influ- sources of financing and other policy into NRI deposits continue on the back of banks in two of India’s foremost manpower ences on Indian stock mar- considerations. Figures pertaining to the higher interest rates. After the rupee fall exporting states — Kerala and Gujarat — kets and this has pushed the quarter-ended December 2012 show that Moiz Mannan in December 2011, the RBI had deregu- have reported an unprecedented surge Trisk-averse investor towards the stability net claims of non-residents on India (as lated interest rates on NRI deposits, forc- in non-resident deposits. The figure for and security of bank deposits. reflected by the Net IIP, ie International portfolio investments in India increased ing banks to hike rates of such deposits banks in Kerala, at December-end 2012, Indian expats have, by and large, shown financial assets abroad less International by $4.9bn. Among other investments sharply, which now hover over 10 per- was reported to be more than Rs627bn. It a pronounced tendency to put surplus financial liabilities) increased by $10.4bn liabilities, trade credit, loan and cur- cent, while banks were lowering rates for grew from Rs459bn in 2011 and Rs370bn funds in non-resident bank accounts over the previous quarter to $282bn as at rency and deposits (mainly NRI deposits) domestic deposits. in December 2010. Banks in the western which, even if unable to give handsome end-December 2012, mainly on account increased by $6.2bn, $0.7bn and $0.6bn Following the steep fall in the rupee, state of Gujarat have reported a 22 per- returns, are at least capable of negating of $10.5bn increase in liabilities. The respectively. which began with the downgrade of the cent rise in non-resident deposits. the prevalent inflation. changes in IIP also reflect the valuation India’s total external debt was $376.3bn US rating by S&P in August 2011, in Jumping by Rs57.34bn over the previ- Let’s take a look at some statistics changes emanating from exchange rate as of December end, up 8.9 percent from November, the RBI had raised maximum ous year, the total NRI deposits in banks for Q3 2012-13 recently released by movements. March, on account of long-term and interest rates on NRE accounts for one- in Gujarat increased to Rs311.79bn. A the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The The Indian residents’ financial assets short-term components. year-plus to Libor plus 275bps. DNA report quoted the State-Level International Investment Position (IIP) abroad stood at $441.9bn and remained The increase in long-term debt was The RBI again hiked the cap on FCNR Bankers’ Committee to state that NRI is a statistical statement that shows, at a unchanged from the previous quarter. mainly on account of NRI deposits and interest rates, raising it to 200bps above deposits contributed some nine percent point in time, the value and the compo- Reserve assets, which remained the major commercial borrowings, while short-term the Libor for one-three-year deposits of total deposits in Gujarat. sition of (a) financial assets of residents component of international financial debt stood higher on account of trade and 300 bps for deposits in the three-five While it is true that the stocks mar- of an economy that are claims on non- assets, rose by $0.8bn to $295.6bn. Direct related credits, RBI said. Within long- year bucket. Last November, net inflows kets have had their ups and downs of late, residents and gold bullion held as reserve investment abroad moved up by $2.3bn term, commercial borrowings accounted into NRE accounts touched $696m. Non- the facts not to missed are that the indi- assets; and (b) liabilities of residents of during the quarter to $118.2bn whereas for 30 percent of total external debt, fol- resident external and non-resident (ordi- ces have largely remained range-bound an economy to non-residents. The dif- Other Investment abroad (mainly trade lowed by NRI deposits at 18 percent and nary) accounts are two different types of and that equity alone will yield handsome ference between an economy’s external credit, currency and deposits and loans) multilateral debt at 13.7 percent. rupee-denominated bank accounts allowed returns in the long run. financial assets and liabilities is its net reduced by $3.1bn. Continuing rupee fall and higher inter- by the government for overseas Indians. In this space, we will soon discuss the IIP, which may be positive or negative. The International financial liabilities est rate saw NRI deposits nearly doubling While NRE funds are repatriable, merits of investing in large cap and mid Such balance sheet analysis of interna- increased by $10.5bn over the previ- in the first eight months of 2012-13 to NRO money cannot be remitted abroad. cap-based mutual funds for really good tional accounts helps in understanding ous quarter to $723.9bn. While direct $11.24bn from $6.39bn a year ago, accord- On the other hand, FCNR accounts are returns over a period of time. sustainability and vulnerability and is investments in India declined by $3.5bn, ing to the RBI. denominated in forex and the funds are THE PENINSULA

SUNDAY 31 MARCH 2013 20 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MORNING BREAK

PRAYER TIME Moscow Fashion Week

Fajr (Dawn) 4:10 Shorook (Sunrise) 5:27 Zuhr (Noon) 11:38 Asr (Afternoon) 3:07 Maghrib (Sunset) 5:51 Isha (Night) 7:21

WEATHER Weather Today Monday Tuesday Conditions: Clear Clear Clear Relatively hot by the day with High: 35° High:33° High:32° slight dust and Low: 23° Low: 23° Low: 22° scattered clouds by evening.

DOHA - SUN & SEA

SUN TIDE SEA SUNRISE | SUNSET HIGH | LOW WIND 05:27 17:51 06:45 & 20:15 02:00 & 13:00 05-15/20 KT

THE REGION TODAY TOMORROW Models display creations by Russian designer Elena Teplitskaya during Moscow Fashion Week, in Moscow yesterday. The show runs until April 1. HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER

MUSCAT 31/23 Partly cloudy 32/24 Partly cloudy MAKKAH 33/25 Clear 35/24 Clear KUWAIT 30/22 Partly cloudy 31/22 Clear BAHRAIN 28/22 Partly cloudy 29/22 Partly cloudy Digital kills beauty: Supermodel photographer SANAA 25/13 Chance of storm 25/15 Chance of storm RIYADH 31/19 Partly cloudy 32/19 Chance of storm NEW YORK: Sante D’Orazio, takes away from the sensuality.” with helping to create is truly what it was and the abandonment DUBAI 29/20 Clear 32/22 Partly cloudy a photographer at the heart of D’Orazio, speaking at the open- over. “The term started with of film has a lot to answer for. In BAGHDAD 30/17 Partly cloudy 31/17 Partly cloudy the supermodel era, said that ing of a sale in New York of some these girls,” he said, gesturing at film, “there’s an emotional quality the switch to digital cameras of his most famous fashion shots, the huge, provocative prints of that the digital loses. Digital cre- THE WORLD TODAY TOMORROW means greater detail than ever knows a thing or two about beau- models in the private sales gal- ates a facade. Film has depth to HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER before, but the loss of something tiful women. lery of Christie’s in Manhattan. it,” he said. “Thank God, I kept all more important: beauty. After getting his first job with “Everybody else is just usurping my film cameras. Nobody wanted ATHENS 22/12 Mostly cloudy 22/13 Clear “The sense of emotion is gone. Andy Warhol, the New York- the title.” to buy them anyway.” WASHINGTON 17/08 Showers 17/05 Chance of showers It creates a detachment from the born photographer went on to His former muses are still world But a broader loss in qual- SYDNEY 25/15 Clear 26/16 Chance of rain subject. The character of the per- become famous for his late 1980s famous, but for the most part have ity comes in the shift from the LONDON 06/01 Mostly cloudy 05/01 Chance of rain sonality is gone,” D’Orazio said of and 1990s pictures of models like moved on. “They’re busy with their likes of the ethereal Kate Moss to PARIS 07/03 Mostly cloudy 11/03 Clear the digital production chain and Kate Moss, Helena Christensen, kids and that,” he said. But their famous-for-being-famous celebri- ISTANBUL 22/13 Partly cloudy 16/09 Chance of rain its torrent of perfect, heavily- Christy Turlington and Eva now iconic images have become ties like Kim Kardashian or Paris MANILA 34/24 Clear 36/24 Partly cloudy edited pictures. Herzigova. The pictures are vari- “collectible” — a development he Hilton. It’s a “trash” world,” said DHAKA 37/24 Clear 37/24 Partly cloudy “That’s the danger of post- ously poetic, even sculptural and hopes will fuel sales at his Christie’s D’Orazio. “As an artist, you basi- DELHI 30/21 Clear 32/22 Clear production in digital. People kill often smoldering. exhibit, titled Other Graces. cally do a portrait of what you ISLAMABAD 28/16 Clear 28/15 Partly cloudy anatomy. They have no sense of D’Orazio, 57, said the super- According to D’Orazio, com- see,” he said. “That’s what our anatomy. The sense of realism model era that he’s credited mercial fashion photography is not culture is.” AFP Film probes Washington sniper murders NEW YORK: Joining a That three-week horror spree States at the time of the Beltway cacophonous debate over gun was far from the only mass killings Sniper, but followed news reports. violence in the United States, in the United States over recent It was two years ago when he a new film probes behind the years. Just last year, a decade after came across an article about the headlines of a 2002 sniper spree the Washington killings, America incident and decided to imagine that terrorized the area around reeled at the massacre of 20 chil- the path taken by the pair before the nation’s capital. dren and six staff at an elementary becoming serial killers. Brooklyn-based French direc- school in Newtown, Connecticut. The process of independent tor Alexandre Moors’s film Blue As a result, the film has been filmmaking, the adopted New Caprice premiered at the Sundance launched at a time of top-level Yorker says, shows a better side festival and was chosen to open the political struggle over whether of the United States. Although New Directors New Films festival more restrictions are needed on he started by self-financing with in New York, which ends today. gun ownership — or, as Moors just $100,000, “investors appeared It explores what became known suggests, whether violence has little by little, almost without us as the Beltway Sniper attacks in deeper roots. Moors, 40, calls searching for them”. October 2002, when John Allen his film “very noir, a requiem on When Isaiah Washington, an Muhammad, a former US soldier where the world is going”. “The actor best known for his role as who joined the black-Muslim state of violence in the United Dr Preston Burke in the TV med- movement Nation of Islam, paired States disturbs me of course, but ical drama Grey’s Anatomy, signed with 17-year-old Lee Boyd Malvo my conviction is that weapons are on, “things started to snowball.” to randomly kill 10 people and only the visible part of the ice- Ultimately, the budget rose to wound three others. berg,” he said before a screening $1m. “It’s the slightly romantic In a unique twist to the mur- in New York, speaking in French. side of independent cinema in the ders, the two used a blue Chevrolet Rather than the killings them- United States, where there are Caprice that was adapted to selves and the familiar aftermath, plenty of people with money, who include a secret sniper’s position Moors concentrates on the toxic love movies and invest in films,” in the back. The rifle could be relationship between John Allen he said. Blue Caprice will hit fired from a small aperture, while Muhammad and his young aco- theatres later this year. keeping the shooter hidden. lyte. Moors was not in the United AFP

Museum theft

Jacques Cuisin of the Natural History museum speaks in front of the elephant skeleton whose tusk was chopped off by a thief, at the Natural History museum, in Paris yesterday. A young man was arrested by the police after attempting to steal the tusks of an elephant that belonged to Louis XIV by using a chainsaw to chop them off. Sunday 31 March 2013 19 Jumada I 1434 Volume 18 Number 5655 Price: QR2

Belgium agrees to asset sale

Business | 23

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 Qatar’s real GDP grows over six percent: QSA report

DOHA: Qatar’s real gross estimate remains almost at the estimate of “mining and quarry- percent over the corresponding restaurants” sector is estimated at Estate & Business Services”, the domestic product (GDP) in previous quarter level of this year. ing sector”, which includes oil and quarter (Q4) of 2011 (QR14.78bn). QR10.76bn in Q4 of 2012 showing GVA is estimated at QR18.61bn in October-December 2012 rose The quarterly GDP in the Q4 gas, in the Q4, 2012 is QR101.60bn, Compared to the previous quarter an increase of 11.8 percent over the Q4 of 2012, showing an increase 6.2 percent from a year earlier, of 2012 at current prices is esti- which shows a rise of 5.1 percent (Q3 of 2012), there has been an corresponding quarter estimate of 10.5percent when compared to growing 6.6 percent from the mated at QR180.87bn. This rep- over the estimate of Q4, 2011 increase of 10.5 percent in the GVA of 2011 (QR9.62bn in Q4 of 2011). the corresponding quarter (Q4) previous Quarter, according resents an increase of 10.1 percent placed at QR96.63bn. The increase of this sector. The positive growth Compared to the previous quar- estimate of QR16.84bn in 2011. to the preliminary estimates compared to the estimate of Q4 of in this quarter is primarily due rate in this sector has resulted from ter (Q3 of 2012), there has been a Compared to the previous quar- released by Qatar Statistics 2011 placed at QR164.34bn. When to the higher prices reported in the higher production reported in marginal decline of 0.6 percent in ter, Q3 of 2012, an increase of 7.6 Authority (QSA) yesterday. compared to previous quarter the extraction of natural gas and Petrochemicals, Basic chemicals, the GVA estimate of this sector. percent has been recorded in this On a cumulative basis, the real (Q3 of 2012) revised estimate of natural gas liquids (NGLs). Fertilizers and metals. The “Transport and group. GDP of the year 2012 is estimated QR174.10bn, the increase is 3.9 The GVA of non-mining and The GVA of the construction Communication” sector has gen- The contribution of the at 341.12bn when compared to the percent. quarrying sectors in the Q4, 2012 sector at QR7.92bn in Q4 of 2012 erated a value added of QR6bn in “Government Services” which estimate of 2011 at QR321.07bn. On a cumulative basis, the has been estimated at QR79.28bn, shows a rise of 7.6 percent when Q4, 2012 against QR5.39bn in Q4, includes the provision of public The quarterly GDP in the Q4 nominal GDP of the year 2012 is which shows an increase of 17.1 compared to the estimate of 2011 showing a rise of 11.4 per- health, education and other mis- of 2012, at constant prices is estimated at QR700.35bn which percent over the estimate of Q4, QR7.36bn recorded in correspond- cent. Compared to the previous cellaneous services is estimated at estimated at 87.06bn, showing an shows an increase of 12.2 percent 2011 placed at QR67.71bn. ing quarter (Q4) of 2011. Compared quarter, Q3 of 2012, a decline of QR16.41bn in Q4 of 2012, which is increase of 6.6 percent compared compared to the estimate of 2011 The GVA of manufacturing” to Q3, 2012 estimate, there has 4.7 percent has been noticed in 20 percent higher than the esti- to the estimate of Q4, 2011 placed placed at QR624.17bn. sector is estimated at QR19.46bn been an increase of 3.4 percent. this group. mate (QR13.67bn) of Q4 of 2011. at QR81.69bn. The Q4 GDP The gross value added (GVA) in Q4 of 2012 showing rise of 31.7 The GVA of the trade, hotel and For “Finance, Insurance, Real THE PENINSULA

Qatar’s QR13.4bn Bank depositors worth projects win Meed in Cyprus to lose Quality Awards DOHA: The 2013 Meed Quality Awards for Projects, in associa- tion with Ernst & Young, have 60pc savings announced Qatar ‘National Winners’ of the GCC-wide awards programme that recog- nises completed quality projects. Central bank confirms bailout terms Four of the country’s highest quality projects, valued at over NICOSIA: Major depositors this disaster to happen here. QR13.4bn, have been declared in Cyprus’s biggest bank will Cyprus was paradise and they’ve National Winners. These projects lose around 60 percent of sav- turned it into hell,” said Tryfonas were shortlisted by an esteemed ings over ¤100,000, its cen- Neokleous, owner of a clothes panel of judges, on the basis of tral bank confirmed yesterday, shop on a cobbled street in the their economic, social and envi- sharpening the terms of a bail- centre of the city. ronmental impact as well as out that has shaken European He said he didn’t except busi- innovations and achievements banks but saved the island from ness to pick up even now that the in design, engineering and bankruptcy. banks were open again after an construction. Initial signs that big depositors almost two-week shutdown. The winners include the Qatar in Bank of Cyprus would take a “I don’t expect anything and I Electricity Transmission Projects hit of 30 to 40 percent — the first don’t hope for anything anymore. owned by the Qatar General time the eurozone has made bank People are going to spend their Electricity and Water Corporation customers contribute to a bailout money on food and everything which will vie in the GCC Power — had already unnerved investors else they’ve been deprived of the Cyclists gather at Eleftheria square in front of a branch of the Bank of Cyprus in Nicosia yesterday. and Water Desalination Project in European lenders this week. last 15 days.” of the Year category; and the But the official decree published There are no signs for now who helped cause the crisis,” said happen eventually,” said Pantelis repaid unless the bank does well. Doha Towers project owned by yesterday confirmed a report a that bank customers in other Schaeuble, one of the architects Panayotou, 70, a jeweller whose Those with deposits under Sheikh Saoud Bin Mohamed Bin day earlier that the bank would struggling euro zone countries of the euro zone’s response to a stands in his shop are half empty. ¤100,000 will continue to be pro- Ali Al Thani (nominated by China give depositors shares worth like Greece, Italy or Spain taking debt crisis now in its fourth year. The island has seen none of tected under the state’s deposit State Construction Engineering just 37.5 percent of savings over fright at the precedent set by the “Cyprus’s economy will now go the angry street violence that guarantee. Company) which is now short- ¤100,000. The rest of such hold- bailout. through a long and painful period frequently erupts in Greece but The imposition of the capital listed in the GCC Building Project ings might never be paid back. “Cyprus is and will remain a of adjustment. But then it will pay peaceful protests by students and controls has led economists to of the Year award. The toughening of the terms special one-off case,” German back the loan.” bank workers have become an warn that a second-class “Cyprus Two other projects are in sends a clear signal that the bail- Finance Minister Wolfgang Cypriot President Nicos almost daily occurrence. At least euro” could emerge, with funds the transport project cate- out means the end of Cyprus as a Schaeuble told German mass-sell- Anastasiades said on Friday that 2,000 students protested outside trapped on the island less valu- gory and will compete for the hub for offshore finance and could ing daily Bild. “Savings accounts the ¤10bn ($13bn) bailout had parliament this week. able than euros that can be freely GCC Transport Project of the accelerate economic decline on in Europe are safe.” contained the risk of national Etyk, a bank workers’ union, spent abroad. Among other things Year award. They are the Ras the island and bring steeper job European officials have worked bankruptcy and would prevent it called a rally outside parliament Cypriots and foreigners are allowed Laffan Port Expansion Project losses. hard this week to stress that the from leaving the euro. for Thursday to protest against to take only up to 1,000 euros in owned by Qatar Petroleum Banks reopened to relative island’s bailout was a unique case Cypriots, however, are angry at potential job cuts and a hit on cash when they leave the island. (nominated by Consolidated calm on Thursday after the impo- — after a suggestion by Eurogroup the price attached to the rescue - their pension funds. Anastasiades said the restric- Contractors Company) and the sition of the first capital controls chairman Jeroen Dijsselbloem the winding down of the island’s Under the terms of Saturday’s tions - unprecedented in the cur- Primary Infrastructure Works - the euro has seen since it was that the rescue would serve as second-largest bank, Cyprus decree, the assets of Laiki will be rency bloc since euro coins and Construction Package 2 Project launched a decade ago. a model for future crises rattled Popular Bank, also known as transferred to Bank of Cyprus. At banknotes entered circulation in owned by Lusail Real Estate The streets of Nicosia were European financial markets. Laiki, and an unprecedented raid Bank of Cyprus, about 22.5 per- 2002 - would be gradually lifted. Development Company (nomi- filled with crowds relaxing in its “Together in the Eurogroup we on deposits over ¤100,000. cent of deposits over ¤100,000 will He gave no time frame but the nated by Al Jaber and Partners). cafes yesterday, but popular anger decided to have the owners and “We’re numb. People are attract no interest. The remain- central bank said the measures “The GCC’s rapid progression was not hard to find. creditors take part in the costs of numb. But their hidden hope ing 40 percent will continue to would be reviewed daily. demands high integrity and con- “Europe shouldn’t have allowed the rescue — in other words those is that something good will attract interest, but will not be REUTERS stant innovation, as projects play a crucial role throughout the region. Despite the growing competitive- ness of project excellence, this has been strongly reflected within the competing projects. It is our great pleasure to congratulate the Mobile shines in exploding world of games winners for their distinguished accomplishments and outstand- SAN FRANCISCO: The cornucopia of games now,” Tech year, reviving interest in immer- and added competition have also of play. Games remain the most ing results,” said Abraham Akkawi, booming popularity of play on Savvy videogame analyst Scott sive blockbuster titles while ram- created additional pricing pres- popular applications downloaded Partner and Head of Infrastructure smartphones or tablet comput- Steinberg said on the final day of ping up connections to content sures that encourage price cuts to mobile devices. Hit games are and PPP Advisory Services, Mena, ers in a realm once dominated the weeklong GDC. “There is an streamed online. sooner than manufacturers would “absolutely vital” to the success of Ernst & Young. by videogame consoles was a explosion in the type and vari- Industry tracker ABI Research like.” ABI said that Nintendo’s smartphones or tablets and have Besides Qatar, national winners hot theme at the major Game ety of games and a tremendous said that successful launches of freshly-released Wii U console has expanded the range of players, were also selected from projects Developers Conference that number of ways to play.” new Xbox and PlayStation models faced a “challenging market” since Windows Phone senior marketing completed in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, ended here on Friday. The power of small studios and later this year could get console the Japanese firm shipped nearly manager Casey McGee said while Saudi Arabia and the UAE. “The Seminars, talks and panels independent developers has risen sales growing again after years of three million units during the holi- at GDC to promote the software National Winners of all the GCC ran the gamut from how to get along with demand for fresh and decline. “Mobile gaming has cer- day season at the end of last year. giant’s mobile platform. countries deserve the highest com- smartphone games noticed in the entertaining games to play on tainly diminished the opportuni- Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo, McGee contended that players mendations for completing projects growing sea of “apps” to behind- mobile devices or online as serv- ties for console manufacturers in along with established videog- are demanding games that can be which will have a tremendous impact the-scenes looks at the creation of ices in the Internet “cloud.” the casual game market and this ame titans, wooed developers at played in small doses on the move on the continued development of the blockbusters tailored for consoles Meanwhile, new-generation has impacted Nintendo the hard- GDC while independent mobile as well as titles to enjoy at home region,” said Edmund O’Sullivan, or personal computers. consoles from Microsoft and Sony est,” said ABI analyst Sam Rosen. game makers shared tips on how on consoles when time provides. chairman of the judging panel. “You are seeing this massive are expected to be released this “The evolving business models navigate the expanding world AFP THE PENINSULA SUNDAY 31 MARCH 2013 22 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS UK strengthens economic ties with GCC Gulf region is Britain’s main source of hydrocarbon imports and among top 10 destinations for exports

DOHA: The UK economy hub. Prior to the crisis, finan- for onshore shale gas, bolstered came from the eurozone crisis and is widely expected to remain a major supplier of business serv- is still struggling to recover cial services had been expanding recently by tax-allowances in the last year, which led to reduced at this level for at least three more ices to the region. from the effects of the glo- at around twice the rate of the 2013 budget. The decline in UK demand from the UK’s main trade years. Moreover, quantitative eas- On the investment side, the bal economic crisis in 2008-09. overall economy. In its aftermath, gas production has prompted partners, resulting in real growth ing purchases mean that the Bank UK has long been a focus for GCC Nonetheless, its importance as however, the financial sector has imports from Qatar. of just 0.2 percent in 2012, the now holds 34 percent of UK bonds. investors, who own many iconic a trade and investment partner been much weaker and con- Thirdly, the UK government weakest since 2009. The median The new governor, Mark Carney, buildings in London and sizable of the GCC is growing, accord- strained by a need to deleverage has implemented a painful aus- consensus of economists surveyed who takes office in July, is widely stakes in blue chip firms. Gulf ing to QNB Group. balance sheets. terity programme since 2010 to by Bloomberg sees growth pick- expected to adopt an even more investors take a long-term view The UK’s GDP declined by 6.3 The UK’s oil and gas produc- try and bring the fiscal deficit ing up steadily from 0.9 percent dovish monetary policy. This is of UK investments, and see the percent from April 2008 to June tion has been in rapid decline under control. The government this year to two percent in 2015, partly why Sterling has depreci- current weakness in the economy 2009. Recovery has been sluggish as many of the North Sea fields faces a difficult balancing act with which would be the strongest rate ated recently, slipping by about and Sterling as an opportunity to and, four years on, the economy mature. This decline is unrelated its public debt. It needs to slow since 2007. Other negative indica- seven percent against the dollar expand their portfolios. Qatar has has still not regained the lost to the economic crisis, but its tim- the rate of nominal increase by tors include unemployment, run- over the last three months. been the most active GCC investor ground and is unlikely to do so ing has made economic recover reducing the primary deficit but ning at around eight percent, and The GCC is among the UK’s top in the UK in recent years, and has before 2015. Two sectors which more difficult. The UK was a net it also needs GDP growth, which inflation, which has been above ten destinations for exports and rapidly built up a large portfolio of have been a drag on the UK’s exporter of oil until 2005 (and is harmed by austerity, to reduce the official target of two percent also its main source of hydrocar- assets ranging from Harrods to a recovery are financial services of gas until 2004). However, oil the size of the debt relative to for over three years. bon imports, after Norway. From 26% stake in Sainsbury’s, the UK’s and hydrocarbons. Efforts to production was just 0.9m barrels the overall economy. Although Inflation is unlikely to be the GCC’s perspective, the UK is third largest supermarket chain. reduce the government’s deficit per day in 2012, half the level the UK lost its cherished AAA brought back below target in the its ninth most important sup- The UK is currently looking to have also weighed on growth in in 2005 and a third of the peak credit rating, when it was down- near term because the Bank of plier of imported good, accord- foreign investors to contribute to the near term. production achieved in 1999. The graded by Moody’s downgraded in England is expected to continue its ing to IMF data. GCC exports to its £310bn National Infrastructure Financial services are a major reserves/production ratio for oil February 2013, this did not result loose monetary policies, aiming to the UK increased sharply in 2011, Plan. Existing GCC infrastructure component of the economy, repre- is less than a decade, although in a notable increase in its bor- encourage lending to businesses to due largely to exports of gas from involvement includes the £1.5bn senting around 10 percent of total new investment and explora- rowing costs as its rational was stimulate the economy. The bank’s Qatar, from whom the UK is now London Gateway port develop- GDP, given the role of the City tion should help. On the gas already priced into the market. base rate has been at a historically its largest customer. In addition ment, by the UAE’s DP World. of London as a global financial front, there are some prospects A further blow to the economy low rate of 0.5 percent since 2009 to physical trade, the UK is also THE PENINSULA

Hainan Rendezvous Dell sees buyout proposals risky

NEW YORK: Dell Inc warned long-term prospects and poten- that it would be dangerous tially limit the company’s ability to take on a lot of debt and to aggressively implement its long- remain a public company given term business strategy, Dell added. its worsening profit outlook, in Under all scenarios examined by a sign that it views proposals Boston Consulting Group, which from Blackstone Group LP and carried out an independent analy- billionaire investor Carl Icahn sis for Dell, revenues are seen as fraught with risk. slipping every year to 2016. Dell’s The No. 3 maker of personal board expects fiscal 2014 operat- computers published a 274-page ing income of $3bn, down from last preliminary proxy statement to summer’s internal forecast of as inform Dell shareholders of how much as $5.6bn, the proxy shows. a $24.4bn buyout proposal from Dell painted an account of founder and Chief Executive arduous negotiations. It set up Michael Dell and private equity a special committee to evaluate firm Silver Lake Partners was put all the company’s options aiming together, and why it is the best of to placate concerns over poten- all the alternatives the company’s tial conflicts of interest facing board had explored. Michael Dell. Icahn has proposed paying $15 The CEO owns 15.7 percent of per share for 58 percent of Dell, the company he started in 1984 while Blackstone has indicated out of his college dorm room with it can pay more than $14.25 per $1,000. Under his take-private Attendants wait for potential clients at the Rolls Royce stand at Hainan Rendezvous, a trade show targeting China’s super rich in Sanya, Hainan island, share — both deals involve sad- deal, Michael Dell and his invest- off the south China coast, yesterday. China is already the largest market in the world for a number of luxury goods from super cars to leather goods dling the company with a lot of ment firm would own 75.9 percent debt and keeping it on public of the company, with Silver Lake markets. Silver Lake’s $13.65 per owning the rest. share all-cash offer would see Dell Dell said Michael Dell’s and go private. Silver Lake’s post-buyout plan Gas from Israel’s Tamar field starts flowing Dell’s proxy statement did not anticipated adding a significant directly pass judgment on the number of sales personnel and Blackstone and Icahn bids, yet it boosting spending on research and JERUSALEM: Natural gas find, Leviathan, which prompted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin allow a significant amount of its warned that any leveraged recapi- development. There are no plans from the Tamar field off Israel’s Israel to set up a natural gas Netantyahu highlighted the achieve- natural gas to be exported. talization was risky if the com- to embark on major assets sales Mediterranean shores began wealth fund. ment in a statement issued by his Tamar has already signed a pany was to remain public. following the buyout, it added, flowing yesterday, the head of “Today (we begin) independ- office. “We are taking an important number of large deals, including “Even when taking into account The restructuring plan envi- a partner in the field said in a ence in Israeli natural gas. It is step towards independence in the one to supply as much as $23bn the certain value distributed to sioned, were it to be carried out with statement. an enormous achievement for the energy sector. In the past decade of natural gas to Israel Electric stockholders, (a leveraged recapi- Dell as a public company, would not Israel, once energy poor, is Israeli economy and the start of we have promoted Israel’s gas sec- Corp and $4bn worth to units of talisation) would be unlikely to be palatable to shareholders and the expected to become a gas exporter a new era,” said Israeli billionaire tor and this will enhance Israel’s conglomerate Israel Corp. result in an aggregate value exceed- stock could suffer, Dell said. by the end of the decade, with Yitzhak Tshuva, the controlling economy and benefit all the coun- Texas-based Noble Energy ing the $13.65 per share merger Dell also said a strategic party, the Tamar field holding enough shareholder in Delek Group, one try’s citizens,” he said. holds 36 percent of Tamar. consideration and would present whose identity it did not disclose, reserves to meet the country’s gas of the partners in Tamar. Tamar is located 90km off the Isramco Negev owns 28.75 per- a number of risks and challenges,” expressed interest on January needs for decades. The gas should lead to a reduc- northern coast and has an esti- cent and Delek Group subsidi- Dell said in the statement, referring 24 to acquire its financial serv- The gas discovery in 2009 led tion in production costs for state mated 10 trillion cubic feet of aries Avner Oil Exploration and to its special committee’s review. ices business for its book value, to an exploration frenzy in the utility Israel Electric Corp as gas. Development of Tamar and Delek Drilling hold 15.625 per- Such a move would decrease estimated at between $3.5bn and Levant Basin — shared between well as a decline in the price of Leviathan will make Israel less cent each. Dor Gas Exploration employee, customer and sup- $4.5bn, excluding debt. Israel, Cyprus and Lebanon — and electricity, the Israeli Water and dependent on energy imports but has a four percent stake. plier confidence in the company’s REUTERS the uncovering of a second bigger Energy Ministry said last week. the country has said it will also REUTERS

War clouds over industry Argentina presents conditions for repayment of debts

NEW YORK: Argentina restructuring terms of 2005 possibly forcing it to default on all offered to repay its debt to two and 2010 to hedge funds NML its debt. “The proposal fulfils the New York hedge funds with Capital and Aurelius Capital court’s dual objectives to satisfy the cash and new bonds on condi- Management, which she has pari passu clause: non-discrimina- tions similar to those of a 2010 branded “vultures.” That offer tion in payment priority and equal debt swap, but the plan is seen would repay the investors around treatment among bondholders,” the as unlikely to be accepted. 70 percent of their capital in nom- Argentine document said. The South American nation, inal terms as the bonds mature in “This proposal is a voluntary which is facing a court order to the next 28 to 33 years. option: plaintiffs can choose pay out $1.3bn to bondholders on Those terms were already between being paid ‘equally’ on the debt it defaulted on during its accepted by holders of 92 per- same terms as the exchange bond- 2001 crisis, submitted its offer to cent of the bonds but have been holders, or obtaining, and seeking the New York Court of Appeals rejected by the holdouts. to execute on, judgments for the shortly before midnight. If Argentina’s latest offer is full amount of their claim,” it said. “The Republic proposes, fol- rejected, the government would According to the filing, plain- lowing the terms of the 2010 be forced to repay the hedge funds tiffs will receive “significant com- exchange offer, to compensate in full now, as New York judge pensation” while the country’s plaintiffs with their choice of par Thomas Griesa ordered late last capacity to pay will be preserved. or discount,” said the document year in a landmark judgment. The proposal also calls for filed by the law firm of Cleary, But because of “pari passu” repaying small individual inves- North Korean workers producing clothes in a South Korean textile factory in the North Korean industrial com- Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton. or “equal treatment” clauses in tors with so-called Par and GDP plex Kaesong. Amid heightened tensions between North and South, North Korea threatened to close the park, Argentine President Cristina the restructured bond contracts, bonds along with cash for the one of the only sources of foreign currency for the impoverished country. Kirchner had already said she Buenos Aires could be forced to pay past-due interest. was willing to re-extend the back all others at the same time, AFP SUNDAY 31 MARCH 2013 BUSINESS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 23 Public spending to push UAE economy up GDP expected to rise by 4.6pc

ABU DHABI: High public grow by another 3.3 percent this spending due to strong oil prices year.” A breakdown showed most will ally with the UAE’s position of the 2013 growth would be in as a safe haven for investments the non-oil sector, which could to boost the country’s economy expand by around 4.1 percent. by 3.3 percent in 2013 despite Growth in the hydrocarbon sector lower crude output, a key Saudi was put at 1.5 percent, far below bank has said, according to a the 2012 growth of 5.9 percent. report on the on-line newspaper In current prices, the report Emirates 24/7. showed the UAE GDP would rise The UAE’s real GDP rose by by 4.6 percent to a record high around 4.9 percent in 2011 and of about $395.8bn in 2013 from 4.2 percent in 2012 and growth $378.3bn in 2012. is likely to remain relatively high The Emirates 24/7 story on the this year while its fiscal system Samba report said it expected an will continue to record large sur- “increasing shift” towards higher pluses, Saudi American Bank capital, including off budget, and group (Samba) said. social spending as the country Releasing its monthly bulletin responds to both strong reve- this week, relayed by Emirates nues and reduced requirements FROM LEFT: Belgium’s Defence Minister Pieter De Crem, Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo, Budget Minister Olivier Chastel and Social Affairs and Health Wam News agency yesterday, for GRE support. It said overall Minister Laurette Onkelinx at a joint news conference after a budgetary control meeting in Brussels yesterday. Samba said the UAE has ben- consolidated spending may not efited from what it described as increase by much this year, but its “safe haven” position, given the the economy should feel the ben- Belgium agrees to asset sales to meet EU demands political developments in Mena efits of it more strongly. region. This includes progress with This has encouraged capital the raft of development projects BRUSSELS: Belgium agreed flow of the economic cycle — by a reduction in support for the operator Belgacom and a stake flows and helped boost confidence, approved by the Abu Dhabi to make ¤1.4bn ($1.8bn) of sav- one percentage point, it said. national railway operator to an in Royal Park Investments, the particularly as it coincided with Executive Council last year as ings and to sell ¤1bn of state- “The government repeats its increase in duty on tobacco, would bad bank created during the 2008 higher oil prices and a healthy well as a resumption of capital owned assets yesterday, as it wish to bring its budget into result in an overall budget deficit break-up of lender Fortis. increase in both oil (4.6 percent) spending in Dubai. There the gov- strives to meet EU budget tar- structural balance by 2015. This of 2.46 percent of GDP. Its headline deficit last year and NGL (9.8 percent production ernment has recently announced gets and avoid being drawn into is a new, important step to reach “We have the protected the was around the euro zone’s rec- in Abu Dhabi last year, the Samba the restart of US $1.1bn worth the euro zone’s debt crisis. that goal,” Prime Minister Elio purchasing power of the citizens ommended ceiling of 3.0 per- report said. of previously postponed projects, With debt approaching 100 per- Di Rupo told a news conference, and our economic fabric as much cent of GDP, from 3.7 percent in Together with strong public and plans to develop Mohammed cent of national output (GDP), hours after an early morning as possible,” Di Rupo said. 2011. However, adding a ¤2.915bn spending, this helped boost over- bin Rashid City which will include Belgium has some of the weakest breakthrough. “With these budgetary meas- contribution to the bailout of all UAE real GDP growth to an the world’s largest shopping mall public finances in the euro zone’s Olli Rehn, EU Commissioner ures, we will enhance the sta- Franco-Belgian lender Dexia estimated 4.2 percent in 2012, it and hotels, according to Samba. northern “core”, partially due for Economic and Monetary bilization of public finances and would push the 2012 gap to 3.8 added. “Oil revenues will be impacted to an almost two-year political Affairs, gave clearance in the will reinforce fundamental items percent. “Looking ahead, the push from by likely production declines and stalemate that was only resolved past week for Belgium’s deficit necessary to exit the crisis,” Di Belgium did little in the way of rising hydrocarbons output will a possible dip in prices, but will in late 2011. this year to be greater than the Rupo said. budgetary consolidation in 2010 drop off sharply, but sustained remain large and bolstered by Its six-party government has planned 2.15 percent of gross Finance Minister Koen Geens and 2011, due to the absence of a improvements in Dubai’s tradi- revenues from increased exter- taken steps since but, like other domestic product (GDP), accord- declined to say what the state fully fledged government after an tional activities and rising public nal assets, mainly held by the Abu euro zone members, looks set ing to government sources. might sell, adding that to do so inconclusive election. But despite spending should help maintain Dhabi Investment Authority,” it to miss the targets set by the But Belgium still needs to could simply depress prices. a spike in its borrowing costs at positive momentum,” Samba said. European Union due to poor eco- reduce its structural deficit, Belgium would need to find a the end of 2011, economists say it added. “The consolidated fiscal nomic growth. excluding one-offs and smoothing further ¤1bn from asset sales to now belongs firmly to the safer “This will be aided by the accounts should remain comforta- The ¤1.434bn , an addition to for cyclical factors, to 1.8 percent, ensure national debt did not rise “core” of the euro zone. recent recovery in real estate bly in surplus, albeit dipping from 2013 savings already announced keep its overall debt level below beyond 100 percent of GDP, he That view was backed up on and confidence, although the debt an estimated 4.7 percent of GDP last year, will reduce the country’s 100 percent of GDP and achieve a said. Monday when the AA-rated sov- overhang and weak credit growth in 2012 to around three percent structural deficit — a measure of structural budget balance by 2015. Belgium holds a 10 percent ereign sold 10-year debt at the will remain headwinds. Overall this year.” the underlying shortfall on public The additional savings, a huge stake in French bank BNP lowest ever auction yield. we expect the UAE economy to QNA finances allowing for the ebb and series of measures ranging from Paribas, 53.5 percent of telecom REUTERS

China ‘resolutely US home prices improve opposes’ US UPS to pay $40m for curbs on IT illegal shipments imports: Report NEW YORK: UPS agreed to the compliance program will set BEIJING: China expressed forfeit $40m and implement a the standard for the parcel deliv- “resolute opposition” and “strong compliance programme after ery industry,” she said. dissatisfaction” with a new US a Department of Justice probe UPS officials weighed whether to cyber-espionage rule limiting found the company delivered target online pharmacies as a busi- imports of Chinese-made infor- drugs on behalf of illegal online ness in the mid-2000s and contin- mation technology products, pharmacies. ued to accept their business even state media reported yesterday. The agreement followed an after they were flagged as prob- The remarks underscore grow- investigation that showed that lematic or illegal, according to an ing tension between the world’s UPS was shipping drugs on agreed statement of facts released top two economies after the behalf of Internet pharmacies by the Justice Department. United States accused China that were distributing controlled UPS spokeswoman Susan of backing a string of hacking substances and prescription drugs Rosenberg said the company has attacks on US companies and gov- that were not supported by a valid cooperated fully with the investi- ernment agencies. China says the prescription. gation, which dates to 2007. accusation lacks proof and that it Despite being on notice from “As an industry leader, UPS is is also a victim of hacking attacks, employees that such illegal ship- taking responsibility and playing a more than half of which originate ments were being delivered, UPS role to address the issue of illegal from the United States. “did not implement procedures online pharmacies,” Rosenberg said. The new provision, tucked into to close the shipping accounts UPS rival FedEx, also under a funding bill signed into law on of Internet pharmacies,” said a investigation for shipping drugs Thursday, requires Nasa, as well A home with a sign, ‘Sale Pending’ in Oakland, California, yesterday. Home prices in the San Francisco Department of Justice statement. from online pharmacies, said as the Justice and Commerce Bay Area rose 17.5 percent in January compared to a year ago. The improving economy, historic low inter- “We are pleased with the steps Friday it does not expect to have Departments, to seek approval est rates, less foreclosures, and low inventory of available homes for sale are reasons for the home prices UPS has taken to stop the use of to settle with the Department from federal law enforcement surging. shipping services by illegal on-line of Justice. “We remain confident officials before buying information pharmacies,” said US Attorney that we are in compliance with technology systems from China. Melinda Haag in the statement. federal law,” said FedEx spokes- The US imports about $129bn “We are hopeful that the lead- man Patrick Fitzgerald. worth of “advanced technology ership displayed by UPS through AFP products” from China, according Vedanta copper plant to close down to a May 2012 report by the US Congressional Research Service. State media including Xinhua, CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu around two days to fully shut However, senior officials were not the China Daily and the People’s Pollution Control Board down the plant. The plant’s opera- available for comments. Daily, quoted a spokesman for the (TNPCB) ordered closure of the tions include the smelter, a refin- “The people here are celebrat- Ministry of Commerce as saying Tuticorin copper smelting plant ery, and production of phosphoric ing the closure order. They are • Bullion - Mumbai the US bill “sends a very wrong of Sterlite Industries, part of acid, sulphuric acid, and copper confident that the closure will Gold (10 gm) Standard Rs. 29540 signal”. “This will directly impact Vedanta Resources group, with rods. Presently the plant is run be permanent one and not an partnerships of Chinese enter- immediate effect, and power with a captive power unit. interim measure,” environmen- Silver (1 kg) Rs. 54775 prises and American business as supply to the plant has been cut The TNPCB order comes after tal activist Fatima Babu said over • Indian Rupees QR1 = 14.79 they conduct regular trade,” said off, a company official said. the leakage of noxious gas from phone from Tuticorin. • Sensex Shen Danyang, the commerce “The TNPCB issued the order the plant March 23, leading to She said: “People may revolt BSE 18704.53 ministry spokesman. to shut down the plant with nausea and skin irritation among against the plant if it is allowed NSE 5641.60 “This abuse of so-called immediate effect and the power a section of people. to function after the March 23 • Short-term investment plan from LIC International upto 6.4 percent return national security measures is utility yesterday night discon- Subsequently, there were pro- incident. They have seen their p.a. (in dollar) unfair to Chinese enterprises, nected the power supply to the tests and the district administra- loved ones suffer from nausea, and extends the discriminatory plant. We are in the process of tion had ordered an inquiry into sore throat and other problems • Housing loan from HDFC LTD practice of presumption of guilt,” stopping operations,” an official the incident. inside their homes so the protests • Mutual Fund: Buy & Sell: SBI MF, HDFC MF, UTI MF, Birla Sun Life MF, the article in the official People’s said over phone from Tuticorin, An official of TNPCB in will be much more vigorous if the Tata MF, Reliance MF etc. Daily said, quoting Shen. 600km from here. Tuticorin said the order was plant starts functioning again.” Contact: Investec, Tel: 44325060/44365060 email: [email protected] REUTERS According to him, it will take issued by his head office here. IANS SUNDAY 31 MARCH 2013 24 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com GECM & TENDERS

GLOBAL ECONOMIC CRISIS MAP (GECM) Every Sunday China to become world’s German unemployment unexpectedly biggest economy by 2016 Britain confirms economy shrank rises as crisis takes toll BEIJING: China is on track to overtake 0.3pc in Q4 America as the world’s biggest US home prices rise in January by BERLIN: German unemployment unexpectedly LONDON: Britain’s economy contracted rose in March as renewed tensions in financial economy in 2016 as its growth the most in 6 1/2 years; orders for by 0.3 percent in the final quarter of 2012, markets increased concerns the euro region’s accelerates, according to a report by long-lasting goods jump official data confirmed on Wednesday. “UK recovery will falter. The number of people the Organisation for Economic Co- WASHINGTON: Gains in housing and gross domestic product (GDP) in volume out of work increased a seasonally adjusted operation and Development. China’s manufacturing propelled the US terms was estimated to have decreased 13,000 to 2.94 million, the Nuremberg-based economy expanded last year at 7.8pc Year low in 2012 on global economy over the winter, according by 0.3 percent between the third and Federal Labor Agency said today. Economists - its slowest pace in more than a economic downturn to reports released Tuesday, and fourth quarter of 2012, unrevised from had predicted a decline of 2,000, according decade - and recent data has fuelled SEOUL: South Korea’s economy to the median of 24 estimates in a Bloomberg analysts say they point to the resilience the previous publication,” the Office for concerns that any rebound in the has expanded at the slowest News survey. of consumers and businesses as National Statistics said in a statement. country’s growth is losing steam. pace in three years in 2012 as government spending cuts kick in. US the country’s exports, facility home prices rose 8.1 per cent in January, investment and private spending the fastest annual rate since the peak of continued to be weak on the the housing boom in the summer of 2006. back of the global economic India’s external debt rises to 20pc slowdown. Africa’s economy rebounds, of GDP grows 5pc in 2012: Report NEW DELHI: India’s external debt rose 8.9 ABIDJAN: Africa recorded an economic percent to $376.3bn as of December 31, growth of 5pc in 2012, recovering 2012, against $345.5bn as of March 31, from a slippage in 2011, says the 2013 2012, accounting for about 20 per cent of Economic Report on Africa. The report gross domestic product (GDP), official data was jointly released March 25, 2013 by released on Thursday showed. the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the African Union (AU) at Swan hails Australia economy as it Brazil stocks open higher, the ongoing 2012 AU-ECA Annual Joint Meeting in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. keeps AAA credit rating rebounding from 8-month low SYDNEY: Treasurer Wayne Swan yesterday RIO DE JANEIRO: Brazilian stocks hailed Fitch’s decision to affirm Australia’s opened sharply higher Tuesday, AAA credit rating, saying it highlighted rebounding from an eight-month low, the economy’s underlying strength. The as global markets looked up on good move means Australia, which survived economic data out of the US around 9:55 the financial crisis without dipping into a.m. EDT, Brazil’s benchmark Ibovespa recession, remains one of a small group of index of most-traded issues traded up nations that still has the coveted rating from 1.2pc at 55522 points. all three agencies, including Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s.

TENDERS

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

Pre-feasibility studies for multiple 21 LT13102500 QR 50,000 N/A 14/04/2013 Design & supervision consultancy services petrochemicals 1 GTC 007/2013 and construction of new warehouse QR 140,000 QR 1,000 4/4/2013 Laying of crushed stones at QP Refinery Al Jazeera Media building 22 ST13101400 QR 20,000 QR 200 8/4/2013 Network Mesaieed

Maintenance, upgrade and support of Replacing of existing reciprocating 23 ST131010600 QR 11,000 N/A 15/04/2013 2 KH/1043/DMH QR 10,000 QR 300 15/04/2013 pipeline studio software compressors Shifting power supply of FTG & power 24 LT13102700 QR 100,000 QR 200 14/04/2013 connection to picnic area in Dukhan Staff transportation services for Doha 3KH/1059/SDH QR 10,000 QR 400 8/4/2013 Turnaround maintenance works within Sheration Resort & Convention Hotel 25 GT13103400 QR 500,000 QR 500 28/04/2013 Dukhan Fields (Fahahil plants and FSP)

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16 Apr Supply of chemicals, fertilizsers & DGC/ 10% of 2013 not 40 miscellaneous course materials at Doha QR 500 GCM/2013-1 Tender value later than Sale & removal of Nissan diesel cargo truck 29/04/2013 Golf club 20 ST13MT0088 QR 2,000 Free 4:00 p.m. with palfinger crane reg. No. 96831 (12:00hrs) Doha Golf Club SUNDAY 31 MARCH 2013 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 27 Murray, Ferrer reach Miami final I could have made it easier on my myself. I could have played a better game: Murray

MIAMI: Former winner Andy match, including three times in Murray and third seed David the opening set. Ferrer will meet in the final of Gasquet, who has won twice the Miami Masters after both already this year but was ham- rallied from opening set losses pered by a right foot problem in yesterday to win their semi- this one, was trying to become the finals in three sets. first Frenchman to capture the Last year’s runner-up Murray Miami title. Murray later said he lost the opening set in a tiebreaker was pleased at his recovery after before beating Frenchman the disappointment of losing the Richard Gasquet 6-7 (3/7), 6-1, first set. 6-2 while Spaniard Ferrer ended “The first set was a tough one German veteran Tommy Haas’s to lose,” Murray said. “I hit over giant-killing run 4-6, 6-2, 6-3. 20 winners and lost the set. “I could have made it easier “So I realised I had to cut out on myself,” Murray said. “I could the unforced errors. I did a good have played a better game when job of that. Halfway through the I was serving for the first set, but second set I started to find the I didn’t. right way to play.” “I responded well and obviously Gasquet received treatment he struggled in the third set with from the trainer during the break his movement. between the second and third set I just had to take care of my for a problem with his right ankle. own side of the net. I did a good “I had an ankle problem already job of that,” he said. from Indian Wells,” Gasquet said. Murray, the 2009 champion, Murray smacked a superb run- dropped his first set of the tour- ning cross-court forehand winner nament by losing the opening-set to reach match point in the eighth tiebreak to eighth seed Gasquet, game of the final set. but quickly made amends and That set up a double match dominated the final two sets to point and Murray wasted no time reach his third Miami final. winning it on his first serve. Murray, who is the lone British A determined Ferrer twice champion in the history of the rallied from a break down in Miami event, has beaten Ferrer the third set to end the giant- in six out of 11 career matches, killing run of 15th-seeded Haas, winning five of the last seven. who stunned world No. 1 Novak Ferrer has only beaten Murray Djokovic in the fourth round. once on a non-clay surface and “I am in the final and I am that was at the Barclays ATP very happy for that,” Ferrer said. World Tour Finals in 2011. “I will try to do my best to win “It is going to be a tough match. the final.” He is an unbelievable competi- The first semi-final of the day tor,” Murray said. “We train a lot was a clash of veterans look- together so we know each other’s ing for early birthday presents. games well so there should be a Haas turns 35 on Wednesday and lot of long rallies.” Ferrer is approaching his 31st The 26-year-old Scot clinched birthday on Tuesday. the win when a frustrated Haas had backed up his upset Gasquet hammered a return of of Djokovic with a quarter-final serve on his forehand into the win over Gilles Simon, and he got bottom of the net on the first of off to a fast start against Ferrer. two match points. The Spaniard looked out of Andy Murray of Britain returns the ball to Richard Gasquet of France Murray finished with six aces sorts as Haas broke him at love during their semi-final match at the Sony Open in Miami, Florida, and won 75 percent of his first- for a 3-2 lead in the opening set, yesterday. Murray won 6-7, 6-1, 6-2. serve points in a centre court and the German broke him again match that ended just one minute for a 5-2 lead. David Ferrer of Spain serves to Tommy Haas of Germany during the semi- shy of being two hours long. Ferrer managed to cut down Ferrer said his service game good,” he said. “I will have to finals of the Sony Open at Crandon Park Tennis Centre in Key Biscayne, Murray started slowly, strug- on his errors in the second set, will be the key against Murray improve my first serve, to play Florida, yesterday. Ferrer won 4-6, 6-2, 6-3. gling with his serve at times as breaking Haas twice to force a in the final. obviously with my forehand sure he double faulted five times in the deciding third set. “I will have to do everything for to beat him.” REUTERS

NFL: Cowboys’ Romo inks Boxing: Charr contract extension James scores 36 as calls out Haye for Syria DALLAS, TEXAS: Dallas star quarterback Tony Romo has reached a six-year contract extension which would reportedly make him the highest paid player in Cowboys history. Heat hammer Hornets benefit bout The 32-year-old Romo was offered an extension despite leading Dallas to just one NFL play-off victory in the last nine seasons. NEW ORLEANS: Two nights BERLIN: Former world heavy- The Cowboys don’t want to risk losing Romo, who would have become after having their streak weight challenger Manuel Charr an unrestricted free agent after the 2013 campaign. snapped, LeBron James and the has vowed to donate half his “This is a significant day in terms of securing stability for our team Miami Heat looked ready to purse to the Syrian peace proc- for the future,” Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said of the deal, which was start a new run. Minnesota ess if loud-mouthed Brit David reported by The Dallas Morning News to be worth $108m with $55m James scored 36 points, hit- Haye will face him in the ring. Timberwolves’ guaranteed. ting six consecutive 3-pointers Charr was born Mahmoud guard Ricky Super Bowl-winning Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco recently in less than six minutes during Omeirat Charr in Beirut to a signed a six-year $120.6m contract with $52m in guaranteed money. the first half, and the Miami Heat Rubio smiles near Syrian father but has lived most “Tony is uniquely qualified to lead this team at the quarterback posi- rebounded from their first loss the end of the of his life in Germany. tion for the next several years,” Jones said, citing Romo’s “abundance in nearly two months to beat the Timberwolves’ Known as the ‘Diamond Boy’, of experience and familiarity with our offensive philosophy”. New Orleans Hornets 108-89 last 101-93 win Charr has not forgotten his ori- Last season, Romo threw for a career-high 4,903 yards and 28 touch- night. against the gins and wants to do something downs with 19 interceptions. His passing rating of 90.5 was the lowest The Heat, whose 27-game win- Oklahoma City to ease the suffering in the land of his career. ning streak ended in Chicago on Thunder in their of his ancestors. Romo has thrown for 177 touchdowns and 91 interceptions since Wednesday, clinched the top seed NBA game at the And he can think of no bet- joining Dallas in 2003. for the Eastern Conference play- Target Centre ter fight to help him do that “I want to thank the entire Jones family for believing and trusting offs. James kept shooting 3-point- in Minneapolis than against Haye, who earlier in me to finish my career as a Dallas Cowboy,” Romo said. “There will ers after making his first one with yesterday. Thursday announced his return to be no greater reward, besides winning a Super Bowl, than playing my 1:55 left in the first quarter, and action after a year-long absence. entire career as a Dallas Cowboy. REUTERS he did not miss until he already “I’ve heard Haye is still looking had set a season high with his for an opponent for his next fight. sixth. He can stop looking, I’m here and ‘’It was one of those nights, so I’m waiting for him,” Charr said. Tony Romo of the I just kept it going,’’ James said. The 29-year-old knows a Dallas Cowboys warms ‘’We had a three-on-one break general manager Danny Ainge, arc when no one challenged him, clash with the brash and popu- up prior to their game and Mike passed to me, and I who said he should not have respecting his driving ability. The lar ‘Hayemaker’ would bring in against the Washington stopped for a 3. I hadn’t done that complained about the fouls on last was a pull-up from the side perhaps his biggest ever pay- Redskins at FedExField probably since high school or the Wednesday, then slammed the with no space, as if he wanted to day, which is why he has pledged in this December 30, early years with Cleveland. I felt door on the Hornets. find out exactly how hot he was. to donate half his earnings to 2012 file photo in good. Just tried to keep the Heat ‘’To hear boos during the name He finally missed two in a row charity. Landover, Maryland. wave going.’’ announcements and then to turn on the Heat’s next possession, but Charr grew up in Beirut but Romo has signed a new James finished with seven 3s - the crowd around and make it they were leading 47-27 by then. his mother relocated to Germany deal with the Cowboys one shy of his career high - as the almost like a home game is really ‘’I’m glad I was on the bench,’’ when he was just five after his worth $108m with $55m crowd at the New Orleans Arena humbling,’’ he said. “It’s unbeliev- said Wade, who sat out during father was killed in the Lebanese guaranteed. cheered louder and louder after able to be part of something like James’ torrid stretch. ‘’I had a civil war. And it is in memory of giving him a mixed reception that.’’ chance to watch the show. When his father that he has vowed to before the game. After his fifth 3, which gave any player gets going like that, it’s make a donation towards peace. Dwyane Wade added 17 points the Heat a 42-27 lead, he walked phenomenal.’’ “That’s why I’ve decided to give NBA Results San Antonio 104 LA Clippers 102 and seven assists for the Heat. by himself along the side of the Ryan Anderson had 20 points half my purse to peace projects Denver 109 Brooklyn 87 Norris Cole scored 12 points and court, raising his arm over his off the bench for the Hornets. Eric and to the Syrian people if David Orlando 97 Washington 92 Chris Bosh 10. head to ask for applause, which Gordon scored 17, and Al-Farouq Haye agrees to fight me,” said Boston 118 Atlanta 107 Utah 105 Portland 95 But James was the show after he received along with a smatter- Aminu tied his career high with Charr. “We all need to fight NY Knicks 111 Charlotte 102 NHL Results drawing fire for complaining ing of boos. 16 rebounds. together so that peace may reign.” Toronto 99 Detroit 82 Tampa Bay 5 New Jersey 4 about what he thought were a ‘’That was my appreciation,’’ he James also hit a pair of jumpers Charr has suffered only one Philadelphia 97 Cleveland 87 Anaheim 2 Chicago 1 couple of unnecessarily hard fouls said of his gesture. ‘’I was letting during his hot streak, scoring a defeat in 24 bouts as a profes- Memphis 103 Houston 94 by Chicago. them know I heard them.’’ season-high 28 points in the first sional, and that came in a WBC Dallas 5 Minnesota 3 Miami 108 New Orleans 89 He shrugged off criticism from Most of his 3s were face-up half as Miami went ahead 60-43. title challenge against Vitali Minnesota 101 Oklahoma City 93 Columbus 6 Calgary 4 the Bulls’ Taj Gibson and Boston shots from a few feet behind the AP Klitschko. REUTERS SUNDAY 31 MARCH 2013 28 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT

Thai veteran Prayad extends Qualifier Wheatcroft the Chiangmai lead

BANGKOK: Thai veteran Prayad Marksaeng yesterday shot a six-under-par 66 to take a five-shot lead over countryman surprise leader in Houston Thongchai Jaidee going into the final round of the $750,000 Chiangmai Golf Classic. American enjoys one-shot lead over compatriots Kokrak and Points Prayad, 47, stretched his over- night two-shot lead by going out in 31, including a chip-in for eagle HOUSTON, Texas: Rory on the seventh, before completing McIlroy didn’t improve his Houston Open the back nine in one-under to sit chances of regaining the world on 18 under at the par 72 Alpine No. 1 ranking, but he held up Scores Golf Resort-Chiangmai. under pressure yesterday to Thongchai, a three-time guarantee himself two more HOUSTON, Texas: Leading Asian Tour number one, shot rounds at the US PGA Tour second-round scores yesterday a 69 and is tied in second place Houston Open. from the $6.2m PGA Tour’s with Australian rookie Matthew Steve Wheatcroft, who booked Houston Open (USA unless Stieger. his place in the field in a Monday noted, par-72): The Thai star, who needs to win qualifier, topped the leaderboard 134 Steve Wheatcroft 67-67 today to have a chance of quali- with a second-straight 67 for 135 Jason Kokrak 66-69, DA Points 64-71 fying for next month’s Masters, 10-under par 134. blamed his putting for not scor- 137 Brian Davis (ENG) 67-70, Stewart Cink Wheatcroft had five birdies ing lower. 71-66 without a bogey and had a one- Stieger shot a fine 68 as he shot lead over Jason Kokrak and 138 Bill Haas 68-70, Angel Cabrera (ARG) remained bogey-free for the week overnight leader DA Points. 66-72, Cameron Tringale 65-73 while Asia’s first Major winner Points had one birdie in his 139 John Rollins 65-74, Scott Stallings YE Yang of Korea carded a 67 for one-under 71 while Kokrak coun- 70-69, Dustin Johnson 69-70, Henrik a share of fourth place. tered his double-bogey six at the Stenson (SWE) 69-70, Ben Crane 69-70, Four-time Major champion 17th with five birdies in a 69. Brendon de Jonge (ZIM) 71-68, Charley Ernie Els of South Africa fired his It was a further two strokes Hoffman 68-71, Jimmy Walker 68-71, lowest round of the season with a back to England’s Brian Davis Boo Weekley 70-69 66 to move up to tied 15th place, (70) and American Stewart Cink 140 Kevin Chappell 70-70, Keegan Bradley eight shots behind the leader. (66) on 137. 70-70, Hunter Haas 69-71, Bob Estes AFP Although he was well down 71-69, Billy Horschel 68-72, John the leaderboard, McIlroy was Merrick 68-72, Lee Westwood (ENG) squarely in the spotlight. 68-72, Scott Verplank 72-68, Jeff Chiangmai Golf His two-under 70 included Overton 67-73 three birdies and a bogey and 141 Josh Teater 74-67, Steve Stricker 73-68, Classic Scores left him on one-under 143 for the Wes Short 71-70, Greg Owen (ENG) 198 Prayad Marksaeng (THA) 65-67-66 tournament, making the cut with 68-73, Ricky Barnes 73-68, Robert Streb 203 Matthew Stieger (AUS) 68-67-68, no room to spare. 70-71, Matt Jones (AUS) 68-73, Charles Thongchai Jaidee (THA) 69-65-69 “As I said, no one likes miss- Howell 69-72, Chris Kirk 71-70, Aaron ing cuts,” McIlroy said after his 204 Marcus Both (AUS) 71-68-65, Anton Haig Baddeley (AUS) 70-71, Brendan Steele Steve Wheatcroft plays his second shot on the eighth hole during the second round of the Shell Houston (RSA) 72-66-66, Kiradech Aphibarnrat morning round, when he still Open at the Redstone Golf Club in Humble, Texas yesterday. thought Houston would mark his 70-71 (THA) 71-67-66, Scott Hend (AUS) 68-69-67, Y. E. YANG (KOR) 69-68-67, last start before the Masters. Digvijay Singh (IND) 67-67-70 Later in the day, the PGA Tour McIlroy, whose opening 73 on 236-yard ninth. While McIlroy I was able to do.” McIlroy has more consistent yesterday, but said McIlroy had committed to Thursday had put him in danger was fairly certain when he struggled in the early going this he still needs to regain some 205 Gaganjeet Bhullar (IND) 70-70-65, play next week’s Texas Open in of an early exit, teed off on 10 and walked off the course that he’d year as he adjusts to new clubs. confidence. Boonchu Ruangkit (THA) 70-68-67, Zaw San Antonio, giving him one more picked up back-to-back birdies at done enough to make the cut, he Although a victory in this “There’s a couple swings out Moe (MYN) 70-67-68, Siddikur (BAN) tuneup for the year’s first major. the 15th and 16th. admitted he felt the pressure late $6.2m tournament would see there again today where I was a 69-67-69, Hu Mu (CHN) 66-69-70 Through yesterday he had After a bogey at the second, he in his round. him regain the top ranking from bit tentative on,” he said. 206 Ernie Els (RSA) 69-71-66, Thitiphun played just 10 competitive rounds got up-and-down for a birdie on “I saw that I was 77th when I Woods, he came in saying he was “If I just let them go, it would Chuayprakong (THA) 68-70-68, Baek in 2013 and seen Tiger Woods the par-five eighth. walked onto the seventh green,” more focused on getting his game be fine. I think it’s more a mental Seuk-Hyun (KOR) 69-69-68, Jason supplant him atop the world He two-putted from 40 feet he said. “I knew I probably needed in shape for Augusta National. thing than a mechanical thing at Knutzon (USA) 67-69-70, Pawin rankings. for par on his finishing hole, the to make a birdie coming in, which Overall, he said, he was this point.” AFP Ingkhapradit (THA) 67-68-71 Tigers sign pitching ace Verlander for five years Canada’s John Moonlight (cen- LAKELAND, Florida: The Detroit Tigers and Justin tre) is tackled by Verlander have agreed to a five- Japan’s Satoshi year contract extension that Detroit Tigers’ Oshima (left) and will keep the star pitcher with pitcher Justin Lote Tuqiri during the club through the 2019 Major Verlander their rugby sevens League Baseball season. throws to first world series, Tokyo The deal also includes an after a hit by Sevens 2013 match option for 2020 that could extend New York in Tokyo yesterday. Verlander’s tenure with the team Yankees’ out- Japan beat Canada even further. fielder Brett 14-10. The Tigers did not reveal terms Gardner, for the of the agreement. ESPN reported final out in the that Verlander will make $28m fifth inning of each season from 2015-2019, the game 3 of the years of the extension. The option is reportedly worth $22m. ALCS series Verlander has two years at Comerica remaining on the five-year, $79.5m Park in Detroit, contract he inked after the 2009 yesterday. season. He’ll make $20m in each of those seasons. Those two seasons combined with the reported terms of the extension and option would make outstanding pitcher in 2011, Detroit’s Opening Day starter. Samoa avenge Australia Verlander baseball’s first $200m becoming the 10th pitcher in “Justin is one of the premier pitcher. Major League history to win both pitchers in baseball and we are Verlander, 30, went 17-8 with the MVP and Cy Young Awards thrilled to keep him in a Tigers a 2.64 ERA and 239 strikeouts in the same season. uniform for many years to come,” in 33 starts last season, leading The five-time All-Star is 124- Tigers president and chief execu- defeat at Tokyo Sevens the American League with six 65 with a 3.40 earned run aver- tive Dave Dombrowski said. complete games, 238 1/3 innings age in his major league career, “Justin has been a Tiger for his TOKYO: Samoa avenged their New Zealand, Fiji and Scotland to set up a tie against France. The pitched and 239 strikeouts. which began in 2005. He is sched- entire career and he is on pace loss to Australia in last year’s all finished top of their groups. Tokyo Sevens is the seventh leg He was the American League uled to start on Opening Day in to be one of the greatest pitchers Tokyo Sevens final yesterday, Series leaders New Zealand of the nine-round Rugby World Most Valuable Player and Minnesota on Monday, marking in this illustrious franchise’s his- beating the defending cham- defeated France 26-7, Canada Sevens Series. Cy Young Award winner as the sixth straight season he’s been tory.” AFP pions 26-14 to progress to the 22-12, and Japan 41-5 and will Meanwhile, vastly-experienced quarter-finals of this year’s play Pool B runners-up United Australian rugby coach Tim Lane event. States in the next round. is set to be named coach of French Samoa, third in the series Tim Mikkelson scored his 101st second tier side Lyon according to Giant deal for catcher Posey standings behind New Zealand try in the win over France while a source close to the club. and Fiji, scored four tries through Sherwin Stowers scored a hat- The 53-year-old - who was SAN FRANCISCO: The according to a report on MLB. League batting champion with Levi Asifa’amatala, Faatoina trick against Japan. backs coach in Australia’s 1999 World Series champion San com. The nine years covered by a .336 average, joining two-time Autagavaia, Reupena Levasa and “It was good to win three World Cup winning side - is in Francisco Giants kept a key the deal, including the 2013 sea- winner Ernie Lombardi as the Tulolo Tulolo. games,” New Zealand’s Belgium advanced talks with the club, piece in place Friday, agreeing son, make it the longest ever for only catchers in the league’s his- “It wasn’t an easy game. Tuatagaloa said. who were relegated from the Top to a nine-year contract worth a catcher and the reported value tory to win batting titles. Australia are a good team,” “The toughest game was 14 last season and are presently a reported $167m with National eclipses the six-year, $127.5m deal Posey had missed most of the Samoa’s Afa Aiono said, add- against Japan. They were very sixth in ProD2. League Most Valuable Player inked by pitcher Matt Cain prior 2011 campaign with a broken bone ing that for the next match “we forward and quick, and they are Lyon have had a disappoint- Buster Posey. to last season as the richest in and torn ligaments in his left have to take ourselves to another good team.” ing season under coach Xavier The contract covers three years Giants club history. ankle as the result of a collision level”. Fiji defeated South Africa, Sadourny despite possessing a in which the star catcher would Posey came back from devas- at the plate May 25 of that year. The result means Samoa fin- Spain and Portugal for a place budget of 15million euros, the be eligible for salary arbitration tating injury to help the Giants He drove in 103 runs, hit 24 ish top of Pool D with three wins, against Australia. largest ever in the history of the as well as five years of free agency. win the World Series last sea- home runs and caught Cain’s per- earning a last-eight clash against Scotland drew with the United second tier. However, they are It also includes an option son with a four-game sweep of fect game last June 13 against the Pool A runners-up South Africa States 12-12, and enjoyed wins still in the running to reach the for 2022 and a no-trade clause, Detroit. He was the National Houston Astros. AFP today. over Wales 12-10 and Kenya 12-0 promotion play-offs. AGENCIES SUNDAY 31 MARCH 2013 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 29

Williams wins Super-sub Gameiro record sixth Miami title

MIAMI: World No. 1 Serena dazzles in PSG win Williams rallied to defeat world No. 2 Maria Sharapova 4-6, 6-3, 6-0 yesterday in the WTA Miami final, winning the event Ligue 1: The 25-year-old nets winner for a record sixth time to claim her 48th career tour title. Williams, who had shared the PARIS: Substitute Kevin easy to prepare for a match before all-time Miami women’s title Gameiro scored the only goal the Champions League, but we Ligue 1 Standings mark with Steffi Graf, won the as Paris Saint-Germain beat had a good attitude,” said PSG last 10 games in adding to a tro- P W D L G/F G/A Pts Montpellier 1-0 on Friday night coach Carlo Ancelotti. phy haul that included crowns in to open an eight-point lead in “Gameiro showed how concen- Paris SG 30 18 7 5 54 20 61 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007 and 2008 Ligue 1. trated he was. Perhaps I could Lyon 29 15 8 6 48 30 53 and runner-up efforts in 1999 and Gameiro’s 80th-minute strike give him more playing time. Not Marseille 29 15 6 8 34 32 51 2009. arrived just nine minutes after for the first time, he scored a very Saint-Etienne 29 13 10 6 48 23 49 “It’s so good to win number six,” the 25-year-old had replaced important goal. Beckham brought Nice 29 13 9 7 41 33 48 Williams said. Clement Chantome as PSG all his experience and his passing It was the 11th match vic- Lille 29 12 10 7 41 30 46 secured a morale-boosting win quality.” tory in a row for Williams over Montpellier 30 13 6 11 44 36 45 just four days before they tackle Ancelotti warned his team Sharapova, coming in their first Barcelona in the Champions not to allow their eight-point Lorient 29 11 10 8 47 44 43 meeting as the top two players in League quarter-finals. lead to deflect them from their Bordeaux 29 10 12 7 28 24 42 the world rankings, and gave the David Beckham, who had come preparation for Tuesday’s first Rennes 29 12 6 11 41 39 42 31-year-old American a 12-2 edge on as a substitute at the same leg Champions League clash with Toulouse 29 9 11 9 33 32 38 in their all-time rivalry. time as Gameiro, played a key Barca in Paris. Valenciennes 29 9 9 11 37 41 36 But Sharapova took a set off role in the goal. “We will prepare as normal. We Williams for the first time since Ajaccio 29 8 11 10 30 37 33 The former England captain, all know Barca, but we want to 2008 and was up a break in the showing no signs of fatigue after put out a team that will want to Bastia 29 9 6 14 34 53 33 second set before the reigning his four-day publicity trip to play football, even if it’s against Evian/Thonon 29 7 9 13 32 41 30 Olympic, Wimbledon and US China, started the move which one of the world’s best sides. Reims 29 7 9 13 26 35 30 Open champion roared back and yielded all three points. “We are in the quarter-finals, Brest 29 8 5 16 28 42 29 breaking the Russian in her last His pass found Jeremy Menez, it’s very exciting. But now every- Sochaux 29 7 7 15 30 46 28 five service games. who in turn released Zlatan thing will become a lot tougher.” Troyes 29 4 12 13 34 51 24 “She definitely pushed me,” Ibrahimovic and the Swede’s pass Lyon can close the gap on PSG Williams said. “I definitely look Nancy 29 5 9 15 26 47 24 was collected by Gameiro to score with victory at home to Sochaux forward to our next matches. It’s and sink the defending champions on Sunday while third-placed Note: Ajaccio deducted two points (plus one Paris St-Germain’s David Beckham (right) and team-mate Zlatan going to be fun for everyone.” at the Parc des Princes. Marseille, 10 points off the lead, suspended) because of incidents following Ibrahimovic look on during the Ligue 1 match against Montpellier at the Williams became only the “I am very satisfied. It’s never go to Nice. AFP league match with Lyon on May 13, 2012. Parc des Princes Stadium in Paris on Friday night. fourth woman in the modern era to win the same event six times, joining Graf, Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova. Dortmund win delays Bayern title celebrations Graf’s husband, Andre Agassi, won the Miami men’s title six BERLIN: Bayern Munich will Bundesliga title in each of the last in Spain on Wednesday, and the the hour, Christian Gentner celebrated just as loudly by Bayern times. have to wait at least another two seasons, can still theoretically early loss of defender Marcel hitting the post from a corner fans as by those of Stuttgart, as a Williams, a 15-time Grand Slam week before wrapping up catch Bayern. Schmelzer to a broken nose will before Mario Goetze cleared draw at the Mercedes-Benz Arena singles champion, also became this season’s Bundesliga title The Bavarians were hoping to affect their preparations for that Antonio Ruediger’s follow-up would have left the Bavarians in the oldest women’s champion in after second-placed Borussia become the first team ever to be match. off the line. position to secure the crown. Miami history, four months older Dortmund won 2-1 at Stuttgart crowned Bundesliga champions They took the lead just before Nevertheless, Bruno However, Stutttgart were than Evert when the legend won yesterday. before the end of March, but will the half-hour mark when Piszczek Labbadia’s men were level reduced to 10 men midway here in 1986 at 31 years and two Polish duo Lukasz Piszczek and now hope to beat Hamburg and looped a header into the net fol- moments later, Romanian mid- through the second half. months of age. Robert Lewandowski scored the Eintracht Frankfurt next week- lowing a Marco Reus free-kick, fielder Maxim cutting in from Dortmund took full advantage Sharapova, 25, suffered her goals for the visitors in Swabia, end to secure a 23rd national title. but Stuttgart, who have been poor the right flank and curling a of the extra man as they wrapped fifth championship-match loss with Alexandru Maxim equalis- The main focus for Dortmund at home this season, fought back shot inside the far post for his up the points eight minutes from at Miami and still looks for her ing in between for the home side. just now is their Champions in the second half. first goal since arriving in the time, Lewandowski scoring his first Miami title after having been The result means that Juergen League quarter-final against The home side were inches Bundesliga in January. 20th of the season, and his ninth denied a 29th career WTA tri- Klopp’s side, who have won the Malaga, with the first leg to come away from equalising just before That goal would have been in as many games. AFP umph. AFP Animal Kingdom rules at Dubai World Cup DUBAI: Animal Kingdom gal- in arrears. Victory for Animal another great race from his much-fancied local hope, stalked Jockey Joel loped to a resounding victory Kingdom was just reward for injury-prone star. “It has been up the pace but raced with too much Rosario and the in the $10m Dubai World Cup connections of a horse that was down and up and down with this zest to sustain his effort. here yesterday in the process due to contest last year’s World horse,” he said. As the winner powered clear Australian own- becoming the ninth American- Cup until he got injured in the “I always thought he had Red Cadeaux came out of the ers (right) of trained winner in the 18-year build-up. another great race in him and it pack to claim $2m for finishing Animal Kingdom, history of the world’s richest Australia’s Arrowfield Stud almost came in the Breeders’ Cup second. raise the trophy race. recently acquired a significant Mile last year but it has certainly Animal Kingdom redressed along with the Trained by England-born share in the horse from the come true here.” the balance for American horses, ruler of Dubai Graham Motion, the five-year- American owners, Team Valor - Stall 12 had been billed as an which have suffered several disap- H H Sheikh old tracked front-running Royal the Australian national anthem impediment to Animal Kingdom, pointments since the World Cup Mohammed Delta before jockey Joel Rosario ringing out in honour of the win who habitually likes to settle in surface was changed from dirt to bin Rashid Al sent him clear early in the home at the presentation ceremony - rear before charging home with a synthetic surface three years Maktoum (left) straight. and is expected to stand him as a a late run. ago. after winning He won by two lengths from stallion in due course. However, after a moderate The horse was already proven the $10m Dubai fast-closing English raider Red Before then, Animal Kingdom break this time, Rosario took the on synthetics, having won the World Cup, in Cadeaux, with another English has his sights on the Royal Ascot horse forward so that he emerged Spiral Stakes at Turfway Park, Dubai, yesterday. runner Planteur replicating his meeting in June. from the first bend on Royal in Kentucky, ahead of his victory finishing position 12 months ago One of the American owners, Delta’s tail. in the 2011 Kentucky Derby. in third, a further 4 3/4 lengths Barry Irwin said he had expected Godolphin’s Hunter’s Light, the AFP

Evans to race Rashid wins Trap event at Emir Cup Shooting Championship at Giro d’Italia

PARIS: Australia’s Cadel Evans has added the Giro d’Italia to his schedule for the season, his team BMC announced yesterday. It will be the first of two Grand Tours for the 36-year-old this year, with Evans also set to race in the Tour de France, an event he won in 2011. In a statement published on BMC’s official web- site, Evans admitted the Tour de France remains the number one objective, but insists that he will not be going to the Giro just to make up the numbers as he recov- ers form after illness hindered his progress last year. “Since the virus I had last year, I have had to change my approach to my work,” he said. “I am not coming to the Giro just for training. I don’t know where I will be with my form, but for sure, I will give it everything.” Evans last competed in the Giro in 2010, when he won a stage and wore the overall leader’s yel- low jersey for one day. Rashid Hamad Al Athba, winner in the Trap event at the Emir Cup Shooting Championship of Qatar Shooting and Archery Federation (QSRF), poses with his gold medal at the Losail “I have always wanted to race Shooting Complex yesterday. Hamad Ali Al Athbi, finished second and Mohammed Ali Al Kuwari took the third place. In the women’s section Trap event, Kholood Al Khalaf won gold, while again at the Giro, but after I Amna Al Abdulla took the silver medal and Nawal Al Khalaf finished third. RIGHT: The medal winners in the women’s section of the Emir Cup in the junior and senior category pose for a raced it in 2010, I didn’t get to picture along with officials of QSRF. the Tour fresh,” he added. AFP SUNDAY 31 MARCH 2013 30 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT Lekhwiya trounce Al Arabi 4-1 Qatar Stars League: Ali and Frau score in Al Wakra’s stunning win over Al Rayyan

DOHA: Defending Qatar Stars League (QSL) champions Kharja contract Lekhwiya yesterday hammered four goals past Al Arabi to inch ‘terminated’, closer to points leaders Al Sadd. Joseph Almsakna opened the says report scoring in the 18th minute while Nam Tae-hee doubled the lead for the QSL giants in the 44th DOHA: Qatar Stars League minute. (QSL) side Al Arabi has termi- In the second half, national nated the contract of Hussein Al Wakra’s forward team striker Sebastian Soria Kharja after the midfielder was Ahmed Ali (left) struck twice (48 and 86) to seal fined and suspended following a Lekhwiya’s impressive win. scores his team’s free-for-all fracas in the Qatar For Al Arabi, the only goal was first goal against Al Stars Cup semi-final more than scored by Dorde Rakic at the one- Rayyan during their a week, a report said yesterday. hour mark. Qatar Stars League The Moroccan was fined Lekhwiya now have 42 points (QSL) match at Al QR 380,000 and suspended for from 20 matches whereas points Rayyan SC Stadium, 10 football games by the QSL leaders Al Sadd have a tally of 44. yesterday. Al Wakra Disciplinary Committee for a In another match yesterday, Al won 2-0. kung-fu-like attack on Nene of Wakra stunned Al Rayyan when PHOTO BY: KAMMUTTY Al Gharafa on March 19. Ahmed Ali (26) and Pierre-Alain VP Nene was fined QR 350,000 and Frau (48) scored two goals at Al suspended for 9 QSL games. Rayyan Stadium. The decision comes after Fourth-placed Al Rayyan have Lekhwiya yesterday crushed Al 30 points from 20 matches. Arabi 4-1 in their round match Al Rayyan are a notch below in QSL. Eljaish (40 points) who are in The QSL Disciplinary third place. Committee also punished Al Sadd now take on Al Abdullah Marafih (suspended Gharafa in the last match of the five matches), Abdulaziz Hatem 20th round on April 6 at Jassim (suspended three matches) and Bin Hamad Stadium. Mohammed Khalifa Al Kuwari Earlier on Friday, striker (suspended two matches). Cabore struck a hat-trick as Umm Kharja began his career with Salal stunned Qatar SC, beating Paris Saint-Germain’s youth side the former national champions and in 2000 he joined Portuguese 3-1 on their home soil. side Sporting Clube de Portugal. Cabore scored either side of the After only one season, he joined two halves (13, 26 and 83) as Umm Ternana in 2001. Salal dented Qatar SC’s attempt He played four impressive Serie to pick up points at Al Arabi B seasons for the Rossoverdi, Stadium. For Qatar SC, the only gaining a place in the Moroccan goal was scored by Abdullah Al national team, and being loaned Kuwari in the 29th minute. to Roma in 2005. In another match on Friday, At the end of the 2005–06 sea- Eljaish’s foreign imports Adrian son, Roma decided not to extend and Wagner Renan found the net Kharja’s loan, so the Moroccan to power last year’s runners-up player returned back to Ternana. for a 2-1 win over Al Kharaitiyat On 20 March 2007, Kharja at Al Khor Stadium. signed a three-year contract with For the losers, the only goal was Serie B team Piacenza. scored by Mohammed Abdul Rab In June 2012, Kharja signed a in the 69th minute. two-year deal with QSL side Al Earlier on Friday, Al Khor Arabi. played out a 1-1 draw against Al Lekhwiya’s Sebastian Soria tries to dribble past an Al Arabi player Ahmad Shahdad during their QSL match at Lekhwiya stadium yesterday. RIGHT: Kharja has also played for Saiiyah at Al Rayyan Stadium. Lekhwiya’s Soria celebrates with team-mates Khalid Issah (right) and Yousef Msakni after scoring a goal. PICTURES BY: SALIM MATRAMKOT Genoa and Internazionale. THE PENINSULA THE PENINSULA Saif wins CHI Al Shaqab

Endurance Race Shafallah Center for Special Needs show win- DOHA: Saif Ahmed Al Mazroui riders were out to prove who was competitors coming before the ner celebrates from the United Arab Emirates the top competitor of the day. five judges. It was a tense com- at Al Shaqab. Al took home the first place in the A two-round competition with petition with Natalie Zu Sayn- Endurance CEI 2* at CHI Al the best riders in the world com- Wittgenstein of Denmark riding Shaqab’s Riding Shaqab. peting, it proved to be a testing Digby taking the title (75.43%), Academy will At the Endurance Village in competition. Jur Vrieling of the closely followed by Patick Kittel develop a unique Mesaieed here yesterday Saif Netherlands took first place, fol- of Switzerland on Toy Story programme tai- rode Aldjani Safinat to vic- lowed by Laura Renwick of Great (71.83%). lored to fostering tory followed by the Italian Britain. “Digby had a good winter the horse riding Marco Sardo riding Ningadoo Vrieling riding Sissi Van break but he does hate the cold skills of seven Kamikaze. Schuttershof said on his win: so it was a great opportunity to students cur- The 120km race through the “Unbelievable, we had wings – bring him here to enjoy the sun rently enrolled at desert tested the stamina of both particularly at the last fence!” and warmth. He made the jour- Shafallah, it was the horse and the rider. Renwick riding Parvati de ney well, is happy, and I was very announced on Yesterday was the final stage of Breve, who led until the very last satisfied with his performance. Friday. CHI Al Shaqab which got under- competitor went, said: “She did The arena is amazing and gives way on Wednesday. everything I asked, someone just you a very cosy feeling so let’s Following the Endurance race, went faster”. hope all continues well for the the Small Tour-CSI 3* kicked The Dressage CDI 4*- Al Individual Grand Prix Freestyle off the rest of the day’s activities Shaqab Grand Prix was a fitting on Saturday,” Natalie said here at Al Shaqab, where forty-four climax to Friday, with fourteen yesterday. THE PENINSULA

Al Shaqab Saif Ahmed Al Mazroui from the United Arab Emirates, winner in the Endurance Race at CHI Al Shaqab celebrates at the Endurance Village in Mesaieed, yesterday. Al Mazroui rode Aldjani Safinat to victory followed by the Italian Marco Sardo riding Ningadoo Kamikaze.

Action from the Endurance Race CEI 2*, a 120km race through the desert at Mesaieed yesterday. SUNDAY 31 MARCH 2013 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 31 IPL champions KKR Doping: The darker side ready to defend title to glamour of Captain Gautam Gambhir says he is fit to lead the side

KOLKATA: global sport Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captain Gautam Kolkata Gambhir feels he should be fit Knight Riders LONDON: Unprecedented levels of skill, intensity and endurance in time to play the first match (KKR) captain have transformed global sport into spectacular mass entertainment of the Indian Premier League Gautam and handsomely rewarded its leading exponents. (IPL) against Delhi Daredevils Gambhir Now that the euphoria of last year’s acclaimed London Olympics has on April 3 and that his side is (holding dissipated, however, a spate of troubling stories in the first quarter of ready to defend the title they trophy, left), 2013 show an altogether darker and more disturbing side to a glamor- won last year. team-mates ous, multi-billion-dollar industry. Gambhir, who was dropped and officials In January, American cyclist Lance Armstrong (pictured below) from the Test squad against are seen in admitted in a television interview that he had doped before each of his Australia for the first two Tests Kolkata in record seven Tour de France victories. and then missed out due to a bout this May 2012 His confession after years of denial followed the United States Anti- of jaundice, had resumed training file photo. Doping Agency’s (USADA) decision to strip him of the title and accuse and was keen on getting back into KKR last year him of being at the centre of the “most sophisticated, professionalised the groove. and successful doping programme that sport has ever seen”. won the IPL “I started out slowly as I hadn’t A report from Australia’s top criminal intelligence unit linked doping Twenty20 played for 10 days, and the fatigue in sport with money-laundering and match-fixing after a year-long is still there,” he said in an inter- cricket investigation. Six leading rugby league clubs, from one of the country’s view to the Hindustan Times. tournament, four football codes in a sports-obsessed nation, confirmed they were “But I should be available for beating under scrutiny. the first match (April 3). We have Chennai Super And Spanish doctor Eufemiano Fuentes, on trial in Madrid for alleg- a long break after that, which Kings by five edly running a doping ring in cycling, said in his opening testimony should give me enough time to wickets in the that he also had clients in soccer, tennis, athletics and boxing. recuperate.” final. Fuentes, who said outside the court this month that he might be Gambir, who captained KKR willing to co-operate with anti-doping authorities, is appearing in to their first IPL title last year court almost seven years after steroids and blood bags were seized in and was the second-highest run- cricket and my life simple by scor- would be pressure on KKR in an investigation code-named Operation Puerto. getter in the season, said that he ing runs.” the tournament as they seek to Lee prepared “The same people who are trafficking in steroids and encouraging didn’t regret not being part of the His lack of match practice defend their title. athletes to cheat by doping are the ones who are engaged in illegal side that beat Australia by a his- going into the IPL, however, isn’t “In a way, our achievements to fill Akram’s betting,” said World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) director general toric margin of 4-0. a cause for concern. last season do bring in a bit of David Howman. “Playing for India is my biggest KKR coach Trevor Bayliss said extra pressure,” Bayliss said in an shoes as KKR “This is essentially money-laundering, bribery and corruption in motivation, but not the only one,” that Gambhir and Jacques Kallis interview to the Telegraph. relation to match-fixing and spot-fixing.” he said. were players who would prove “But at the end of the day, it’s a At a WADA media symposium in London in February, Howman “As a sportsperson, I want to their experience once the com- good feeling to start a competition bowling mentor said at least 25 percent of international sport was controlled by the keep performing. I hadn’t played petition begins. as the defending champions. We underworld. for Delhi in a long time, so it felt “At the same time, we have a need to carry on with the momen- KOLKATA: Kolkata Knight “The black markets supply a lot of pharmaceutical products before great to be back. That we won the squad with highly effective play- tum we had gained last year.” Riders (KKR) pace spear- they are out on the white market,” he said. Vijay Hazare Trophy after 17-18 ers in the middle order, who can England batsman Eoin Morgan, head Brett Lee, who also has “That’s run by the criminal underworld, so a lot of the pharmaceuti- years made it doubly special. I just handle the responsibility they Lakshmipathy Balaji and left-arm been made the bowling men- cal stuff comes out in that way.” want to make runs that help my have been entrusted with,” Bayliss spinner Iqbal Abdulla joined the tor replacing Pakistan legend Rob Koehler, the director of education and programme development team win. I don’t want to com- added. team in Kolkata last week. Wasim Akram, yesterday said at WADA, told an anti-doping con- plicate things. I want to keep my Bayliss also admitted there AGENCIES he was prepared for the new ference in London this month the challenge. drugs problem in sport reflected the “I am really proud and pleased problems of society as a whole. Dravid happy to to say that I am the bowling men- “We are always trying to push the tor while still playing. It is a chal- limit,” he said. “Adults are cheating. have Watson at lenge and I am looking forward to Students are cheating, in fact they it,” Lee said after leading KKR think they are smart if they don’t the start of IPL bowlers through a grueling net get caught.” practice at the Eden Gardens Koehler said one percent of the BANGALORE: Former India here. population as a whole was rich while Test batting star Rahul Dravid The former Australian pacer the middle class was shrinking and has said Rajasthan Royals will replaced ‘Sultan of Swing’ Akram the lower class growing. The posi- be bolstered by the presence of who earlier stepped down as KKR tion was similar in sport. Shane Watson, who is expected bowling coach as he wanted to “Top athletes are making mil- to join the team in time for spend more time with his family. lions, some athletes make a modest the side’s second game against “Wasim chose to spend time living, most barely get by,” he said. Kolkata Knight Riders on April with his family so good luck to “But what some athletes used to 8. him. He was a great help for the make in their career they are now “Watson brings a lot of qual- bowlers and I will try my best as making in one year.” ity to the team,” Dravid told The the new mentor,” said Lee in a Doping’s black heartland has Times of India news daily. report posted on cricinfo.com. traditionally been in the speed and “Last year, we missed him for Lee, however has big shoes strength sports of track and field, the first eight or nine games. This to fill as Akram associated with weightlifting and cycling. time, we are lucky that way. If now Gautam Gambhir-led side But it has also become increas- we can play to our potential, we for the past three seasons, was a ingly apparent that the nature of should be able to do pretty well.” part of the core team along with ball sports, which rely on a unique He also added that Watson may coach Trevor Bayliss and played set of skills peculiar to their disci- be promoted to open the innings a key role in KKR’s maiden IPL plines, has changed. with Ajinkya Rahane. title last year. The new bowl- Baseball, with its explosion of home runs in the 1990s, is an obvious Royals coach Paddy Upton was ing mentor also the team’s pace example and this year slugger Barry Bonds, the record holder for home upbeat about the prospects of the spearhead, however, is willing to runs, and pitcher Roger Clemens, a seven-times Cy Young winner, were squad in the IPL. play second fiddle to all rounder not elected to the Hall of Fame. “It is essential to work out a Jacques Kallis whom he described The pair, appearing on the ballot for the first time after waiting fine balance between team and as the “go to man”. five years following their retirements, were linked with performance- individual performance,” Upton “Our bowling attack is good and enhancing drugs in the Mitchell report which detailed widespread told The Hindu. has variety especially with Kallis doping in the sport. “Our focus is to play at our level around. He is a great player and Baseball is similar in nature to Twenty20 cricket, where strength best and deliver top performances has been our go to man for the as well as technique is necessary to repeatedly clear the boundaries. throughout the season. We pro- last two seasons. Be it with the Rugby union players, who used to be a mixture of the big and the vide space to our players to take ball or the bat, he has a crucial powerful and the small and the speedy, are now uniformly bulked up. their own decisions, judge their to play,” said Lee. Tennis, as the five-set marathons now common in the men’s game performance and together we all The KKR have an exciting demonstrate, demands sustained power and endurance to an extent help each other to execute these Sri Lankan cricketer Kithuruwan Vithanage catches a ball during a bowling attack with Lee and West once unimaginable. decisions on field. We are trying practice session at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Pallekele Indian offie Sunil Narine who was Even golfers, as the modern breed of players headed by Tiger Woods to improve the sporting skills in yesterday. Sri Lanka, to be captained by Dinesh Chandimal for the first instrumental in the city franchise demonstrates, are now athletes working out in the gym as well as our players and groom their over- time, and Bangladesh will play one Twenty20 match in Pallekele today. winning its maiden IPL crown in frequenting the driving range. all personality.” AGENCIES 2012. AGENCIES In England, the Football Association reacted to concerns expressed by Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger about the possible use of EPO by announcing it would bring in testing for the blood booster, which was introduced into cycling in the 1990s. “We have had some players come to us at Arsenal from other clubs Ryder regains consciousness abroad and their red blood cell count has been abnormally high. That kind of thing makes you wonder,” Wenger said. WELLINGTON: New Zealand “Jesse’s condition has improved Twenty20 tournament with the Wenger also called for blood testing in soccer, adding: “I don’t think cricketer Jesse Ryder (pictured to the extent that he is now out of Delhi Daredevils this week, but we do enough. It is very difficult for me to believe that you have 740 left) has regained consciousness the induced coma and off the ven- had been in a self-imposed exile players in the World Cup and you come out with zero problems.” and is talking to friends and tilator,” Ryder’s manager Aaron from international cricket after a Roger Federer, a 17-time Grand-Slam tennis champion, also called family as he recovers from an Klee said in a statement issued series of alcohol-related incidents. for the introduction of biological passports, pioneered in cycling and alleged assault in Christchurch through New Zealand Cricket. Despite publicly swearing subsequently introduced in athletics, which track changes in a com- earlier this week, his manager “Jesse is awake and talking to off alcohol, Ryder had begun petitor’s blood profile which could be caused only by doping. said yesterday. us, but he is obviously still work- drinking again in recent weeks, “A blood passport will be necessary as some substances can’t be dis- Ryder, 28, was rushed to hos- ing through the immediate effects New Zealand Cricket Players covered right now but might in the future, and that risk of discovery pital early on Thursday with from being in the coma and the Association chief executive Heath can chase cheats away,” the Swiss said. serious head injuries after being drugs the medical team have been Mills said on Thursday. “But there also should be more blood tests and out-of- competition involved in two altercations out- using. Ryder was not expected to controls in tennis.” side a bar and fast food restaurant “Naturally we are thrilled with return to international cricket for WADA and its president John Fahey, whose six-year term ends this in Christchurch. this progress. This is only the New Zealand’s tour of England in year, have never been busier and he told the London symposium there Local media reported Ryder start of the recovery process for May-June. was no sign the bad news would end any time soon. had sustained a fractured skull Jesse and there is still a big bat- Ryder has made 1,269 runs in “As long as there is sporting competition there will be athletes who and a collapsed lung in the assault. tle ahead to full health, but the 18 Tests at an average of 40.93 choose to cheat, and consequently a need to lead the fight against this Two men have been charged progress is positive.” with a highest score of 201 and global threat to sport’s integrity,” Fahey said. with assault and will appear in Ryder had been expected to 1,100 runs in 39 one-day interna- “And, if the last eight months are anything to go by, that need is court on April 4. travel to India for the lucrative tionals at 34.37. REUTERS increasing in its urgency rather than receding.” REUTERS Sunday 31 March 2013 19 Jumada I 1434 Volume 18 Number 5655 Sport Price: QR2

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www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 United extend points lead to 18 EPL: Ferguson’s side inches closer to the league title; Chelsea lose to Southampton

LONDON: Manchester saw their hopes the chief ben- Goals from Gervinho, Santi City capitalised on a stum- of Champions English Premier eficiaries of their Cazorla and Olivier Giroud saw ble from Chelsea to tighten League quali- latest success. Arsenal construct a 3-0 lead their grip on second place in fication com- League Results Spurs won 2-1 at inside 67 minutes, with Mikel the Premier League yesterday, promised in Swansea City to Arteta adding a fourth from the after Manchester United took a 2-1 loss at Sunderland 0 Manchester Utd 1 leapfrog Chelsea penalty spot after Hal Robson- another stride towards the title. Southampton. Arsenal 4 Reading 1 into third place, Kanu had hit back for the visitors. Sunderland’s United’s 1-0 win at Sunderland Jay Rodriguez although they Manchester United took a step Everton 1 Stoke 0 Danny Rose had given them an 18-point lead put the hosts have played a closer to a 20th English league Manchester City 4 Newcastle 0 (right) vies with but City cut their advantage back ahead in the 23rd Southampton 2 Chelsea 1 game more. Jan title by grinding out a 1-0 win to 15 points ahead of the forth- minute, exchang- Vertonghen’s at Sunderland in the lunchtime Manchester Swansea 1 Tottenham 2 coming Manchester derby by ing passes with classy finish game. United’s crushing Newcastle United 4-0 Steven Davis and West Ham 3 West Brom 1 put Tottenham The game’s only goal in the Ecuadorian mid- at the Etihad Stadium. coolly steering Wigan 1 Norwich 0 ahead in the 17th 27th minute when Titus Bramble fielder, Antonio Carlos Tevez slid in to convert the ball past the Playing today (1330GMT) minute and the diverted Robin van Persie’s cross Valencia during Gael Clichy’s cross in the 41st advancing Petr Aston Villa vs Liverpool Belgian then teed into his own goal. their English minute and David Silva made Cech. Playing Monday (2000GMT) up Gareth Bale Victory was especially sweet Premier League it 2-0 before half-time when he Chelsea cap- Fulham vs QPR to beat Michel for United as Sunderland’s fans match at the collected Samir Nasri’s pass and tain John Terry Vorm with a had celebrated exuberantly at the Stadium of Light rifled a shot into the bottom-right equalised in the vicious strike Stadium of Light on the final day in Sunderland, corner. Making his first appear- 33rd minute, heading home from from outside the area. of last season when United found England, ance in two months, City captain a corner, but Rickie Lambert Michu replied with a 71st- out they had been pipped to the yesterday. Vincent Kompany added a third in restored the hosts’ lead two min- minute header, but Spurs held on. title by City. the 56th minute with a flick from utes later when he swept home a Fifth-place Arsenal closed to Defeat left Sunderland four Gareth Barry’s low shot and an superb free-kick from 25 yards. within just two points of Chelsea points above the relegation zone own goal from James Perch made Southampton have now beaten after a 4-1 win at home to in 16th place, although they have Newcastle’s misery complete. City, Liverpool and Chelsea at Reading, who sank to the foot of played at least a game more than City now have a five-point cush- home this year, and Arsenal the table in new manager Nigel the teams immediately below ion in second place after Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur were Adkins’ first game in charge. them. AFP Bolt ‘focused’ on today’s Rio 150m sprint

RIO DE JANEIRO: Jamaican sprint star Usain Bolt has vowed to push himself to the limit during today’s 150m exhibi- tion event on Rio’s Copabacana beach. The 26-year-old surprised pas- sers-by Friday when he trained on the famed stretch of sand and conversed with local fans, reports Xinhua. “I don’t run 150m often but I am going to give my all,” Bolt said of the race, which will be staged on a temporary track that has been custom-built on the beach. “I hope everything goes well and that I am able to perform as Jonny Wilkinson, the 33-year-old England World Cup winner, is aiming a planned. It’s all about keeping my further season at French club Toulon. Wilkinson says he sought the advice focus and staying calm.” of Toulon team-mates Matt Giteau and Frederik Michalak before targeting Bolt’s opponent’s will include a further season at the French Top 14 club. Ecuador’s Alex Quinonez and Antigua’s Daniel Bailey. The lat- ter was called up at late notice to replace Wallace Spearmon, who Wilkinson changes was reportedly forced to with- draw due to personal problems. The heats featuring Brazilian- only athletes will determine the retirement plan last place in today’s final. Bolt, who has won six Olympic LONDON: Jonny Wilkinson Giteau and France’s Michalak gold medals, holds the 150m world says he sought the advice of were taken into account before record with a mark of 14.36 sec- Toulon team-mates Matt Giteau he decided to play on at the club onds achieved in Manchester in and Frederik Michalak before he joined in 2009. 2009. targeting a further season at the “These are guys who play inside Meanwhile, Jamaican former French Top 14 club. and outside me and both play in 100m world record holder Asafa The 33-year-old England World my position too, so there is no bet- Powell suffered a tight hamstring Cup winner was seriously consid- ter position to have to see if they yesterday which he said would ering bringing an end to his play- think I am doing a good job,” he prevent him from running in ing career when his contract with said. Australia’s Stawell Gift. the French club ran out at the “I also wanted to know where Although his backup team said end of this campaign due to a long they see their futures. Am I in the Powell could still recover in time standing groin problem. way of their future? Am I helping for tomorrow’s semi-finals and But Wilkinson told The Times their future? Do they feel com- final after responding to physi- yesterday that encouragement fortable playing alongside me? I otherapy, the Jamaican sprint from Giteau and Michalak and was more than willing to hear. superstar said he would not be following a successful operation “These are guys for whom I risking further hamstring prob- has tipped the balance in favour have such great respect, guys lems by running. of signing a new contract. from whom you want to hear the “No, I definitely can’t run (on Discussing his recent opera- negative stuff. Monday),” Powell told reporters. tion in The Times, Wilkinson “But they were really honest “The hammy is giving me some said: “I didn’t know if it was going and I got the impression that they problems and it wouldn’t be fair to work, but it has given me the wanted me there.” to me to go out there and push it. ability to go out and work hard, Wilkinson stepped down from “But I really wanted to give the to recover and go again. the international game just over crowd the performance today. “From November through to a year ago following a stellar “From 30 metres, the leg January, I was thinking: end of Test career, but his name contin- started to get real tight. I came career.” ues to be linked with the British out of the drive phase and just Wilkinson said the views of and Irish Lions squad to tour started running.But I wasn’t run- Toulon fly-half stars Australian Australia. AFP ning 100 percent.” AGENCIES