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www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780 Israel must wake up to Arab Spring: Emir Doha Forum proved its usefulness after a modest beginning, says Prime Minister

DOHA: The Emir H H Sheikh Hamad negotiations or the political process as comprehensive reform based on a modern bin Khalifa Al Thani said yesterday an end in itself, and consequently there educational system, thus we ensure the that the Arab revolutions have put must be a serious effort to achieve just practice of respecting others’ opinions Israel in direct confrontation with the peace as the main objective and goal of to achieve a social interaction based on Arab masses who have been seeking a the peace process,” he added. dialogue rather than violence, he added. just solution to the Palestinian issue. The opening session was also attended The Emir said he felt sorrow and grief Opening the 13th Doha Forum and by the Prime Minister and Foreign to see the Syrian people’s revolution Enriching the Middle East’s Economic Minister H E Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem entering its third year without a clear Future Conference at the Ritz-Carlton bin Jabor Al Thani, H E Abdullah bin prospect to stop the bloody conflict. yesterday, the Emir stressed that pov- Hamad Al Attiyah, Chairman of the “It is no longer acceptable from the erty, unemployment, absence of decent Qatar Administrative Control and powerful countries in the international means of living and violation of human Transparency Authority, senior diplo- community not to act to put an end to rights were the driving forces behind the mats and other dignitaries. this terrible tragedy and the worsen- unfolding Arab revolutions. “We must not forget that the preva- ing humanitarian disaster, while at the “We have heard in the past that reform lence of poverty, unemployment, absence same time they want to determine the has to be put aside until a peaceful set- of decent means of living and violation of identity of those who defend the Syrian tlement is reached with Israel, but eve- human rights under the reign of auto- people under various pretexts. Sadly, ryone should realise that such thinking is cratic, repressive and corrupt regimes this happens after the failure of all Arab no longer tenable after the Arab Spring were the driving forces behind the unfold- and international initiatives to push the revolutions, which were necessitated by ing of Arab revolutions that have been Syrian regime to listen to the voice of the propensity towards reform and pur- targetting popular participation in the reason,” said the Emir. suit to implement the ensuing outcomes, political and economic decision-making,” The Prime Minister, in his welcome and that could not be achieved unless it is said the Emir. address, stressed that the Doha Forum coupled with the quest to find a peaceful Achieving this goal requires begin- has proved its usefulness after a mod- settlement for the Palestinian cause and ning with developing the institutions est beginning and expanded its theme the Middle East conflict,” said the Emir. that guarantee the scale of this par- becoming a platform to discuss every- The Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani speaking at the Doha Forum at the Ritz- “The reason for this is that the Arab ticipation, which cannot succeed unless thing pertaining to democracy and free Carlton yesterday. Spring revolutions have set Israel in a coupled with plans to disseminate demo- trade. “The Forum has important axes direct confrontation today with the Arab cratic awareness, and an active effort in which had its significance if we took into social fields and the resulting significant and entered into the institutional reform peoples and not only with their rulers. the sustainable development considered account what is happening on the glo- impacts on the Arab world, especially the process,” said the Prime Minister. Those peoples would no more accept as an inseparable face of the process of bal arena in the political, economic and countries that witnessed the Arab Spring THE PENINSULA Ooredoo, Messi Foundation Emir Cup Cars with sale stickers tie up for medical aid to kids bounty to get QR500 fine for fans DOHA: Doha Municipality has like a showroom are transparent DOHA: Ooredoo and the Leo is trailing a 24/7 mobile health North Africa and Southeast Asia. announced a major crackdown and involve accountability. The Messi Foundation have tied up advice service, and Indosat in “Ooredoo and I believe in making DOHA: Some 20 expen- against car owners who put showroom takes responsibility if to support mobile health clin- Indonesia is developing a similar a difference in the community, sive cars, 11 motorcycles, stickers on their vehicles saying there are problems. ics around the world to provide service enabling access to doctors and I’m proud that the Leo Messi 30 iPads, 30 mini-iPads, they are for sale. Moreover, cars on offer for sale medical aid for children in the and health related information Foundation will help Ooredoo pro- 40 Sony mobile phone Used cars or other vehicles through stickers, as also those Middle East, North Africa, and via text, voice and rich content. vide much-needed healthcare and handsets, a number of can only be put on display for abandoned by their owners, are Southeast Asia. “Disease and lack of access to educational support for at-risk ‘Play Stations’ and hun- sale at an authorised showroom left parked on the roadside or lit- Ooredoo Chairman Sheikh healthcare is a major barrier for children around the world. This dreds of high-end per- or at a licensed auction yard, the tered around in open spaces, and Abdullah bin Mohammed bin young people in many parts of the unique partnership with Ooredoo fumes and other goodies Municipality has said. many a time it is found that some Saud Al Thani and football star developing world, and we see the is another way that we can help are to be distributed to Vehicles with ‘for sale’ stickers of their spare parts are missing. Lionel Messi announced the mobile clinic initiative as a practi- youth make their dreams come the lucky winners from will be fined QR500 for the first People, in fact, try to avoid pay- launch of the initiative during a cal and effective solution. Today’s true,” Lionel Messi said. among thousands of foot- time and are to be towed away by ing commission to showrooms and ceremony at the Aspire Academy initiative will enable us to work The Foundation will also help ball fans who turned up to the Municipality if the violation thus want to find buyers directly, yesterday. The project aims to with the Leo Messi Foundation promote and develop the pro- watch the Emir Cup final is repeated. Their owners will be Al Hajri told Al Sharq. reach out to two million children and transform our Indonesian gramme across additional regions soccer match that was fined QR5,000. Such cars can be seen parked in by 2016. mobile clinic initiative into a glo- in Indonesia, including distrib- held recently in which Al Civic inspectors and traffic large numbers in the parking lots The company also plans to bal force for better health,” Saud uting medicine to more young Rayyan Club emerged the department personnel are closely of major shopping complexes or expand its range of mHealth Al Thani said: people. People will be able to rec- winner. coordinating to jointly keep an eye on the roads close to these facili- services — health-based advisory The Leo Messi Foundation, ognise the partnership, as there The Qatar Football on such vehicles, as also on those ties. “You can see more and more and monitoring services that can founded by Messi in 2007, has will be branded logos of the Leo Association yesterday abandoned on the roadside or in cars with stickers in their rear be accessed on a mobile phone. helped fight Chagas disease and Messi Foundation and Messi on announced the ticket num- open places by their owners. Used windows announcing sale with Customers in Kuwait, Palestine offer scholarships for training doc- the mobile health clinics and doc- bers of the winners. cars that are for sale should be mobile numbers of owners writ- and Iraq can already access dia- tors. Working with Ooredoo will tors’ medical kits. The Association said the taken to an authorised showroom ten, before the start of the long betes-related mobile informa- enable the Foundation to extend THE PENINSULA lucky winners must produce and not parked on the roadside summer break year after year as tion and alerts. Ooredoo Qatar its work into the Middle East, Continued on page 3 original tickets as well as or left in other public places many people want to dispose of their identity (ID) cards to with stickers announcing sale, their cars before going on long collect the gifts. said Ali Nasser Al Hajri, from vacations,” the official said. The winning ticket Doha Municipality’s Motoring Such vehicles will be singled out numbers were announced Department. and the owners will be intimated on QFA’s Facebook page — One of the disadvantages of sell- about the first time violation and ‘Qatar Football Association’. ing vehicles using stickers is that fine, and warned that they should The QFA said the last there is no accountability in case not repeat the violation. date to collect the gifts is of a dispute between the buyer and If the violation is repeated the Thursday, June 6. seller, he said. Transactions tak- vehicle would be towed away and THE PENINSULA ing place through licensed outlets fined QR5,000. THE PENINSULA

QNB to start India subsidiary Over 60 killed in Iraq blasts DOHA: QNB Group has received all regu- BAGHDAD: More than 60 people were killed in a latory approvals to establish a fully owned series of car bomb explosions targeting Shias across subsidiary under the name of “QNB (India) Iraq yesterday, police and medics said, part of the Private Limited”, which is expected to com- worst sectarian violence since US troops pulled out mence operations in the third quarter of this in December 2011. The attacks brought the number year. killed in sectarian clashes in the past week to over QNB (India) will take the role of extending 200, and tensions between Shias and Sunnis have consultancy and advisory services in investment reached a peak where some fear a return to all-out and finance for Middle East companies willing to civil conflict. establish businesses and/ or invest in India. No group claimed responsibility for the bombings. As part of its international expansion strategy, Iraq is home to a number of Sunni Islamist insurgent QNB Group is seen to always seek presence and groups, including the Al Qaeda-affiliated Islamic State competition in leading markets. of Iraq, which has previously targeted Shias in a bid The economy of India is the tenth-largest in the to provoke a wider sectarian confrontation. Nine peo- world by nominal GDP (Gross Domestic Product) ple were killed in one of two car bomb explosions in and the third-largest by PPP (Purchasing Power Basra, a predominantly Shia city 420km southeast of Argentinian football star Lionel Messi and Chairman of Ooredoo Group, Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Saud Parity). Baghdad, police and medics said. REUTERS Al Thani, pose with children at Aspire Dome yesterday. See also page 28 (SHAIVAL DALAL) THE PENINSULA Full report on page 6 TUESDAY 21 MAY 2013 02 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME Tunisia on right path despite challenges: PM Tunisian people trying to build a democratic and pluralistic country, Larayedh tells Doha Forum

DOHA: Tunisian Prime Minister Ali Larayedh said here yesterday that Tunisia was on track to create a new demo- cratic society despite the teeth- ing pains of the first years after the revolution. He also assured that Tunisia will not be a “theocratic state” and “will not discriminate against non-Muslims.” Addressing the opening ses- sion of the Doha Forum at Ritz Carlton, Al Larayedh said: “The Tunisian people are trying to build a new humanitarian, civic, democratic, pluralistic country that protects human rights ... A civic state that is not religious or military. The individuals who rep- resent the people will be chosen by the people as their legitimate representatives.” “Tunisia is on the right path despite the challenges. A consti- tution will be adopted soon that The Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani receiving Tunisian Prime Minister Ali Larayedh. RIGHT: The Prime Minister and Foreign Minister H E Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabor Al will create a civic state: the con- Thani adrressing the Doha Forum at Ritz-Carlton, yesterday. stitution has been presented for public discussion and legislative in five areas of the continent,” he of Argentina Amado Boudou things that can help in their eco- facing international challenges. structure to strengthen partner- elections will be held by the end said, adding: “We would like to underlined the need for concerted nomic prosperity because they He called for a quick solution ships among regional countries of the year,” he added. invite Arab partners to come and international efforts for achieving are closed, while other countries, to the Syrian crisis and for the and to be an engine for future The opening session, enti- help build the bridge between the a global financial structure to bail including Qatar and some Latin convening of the proposed inter- joint investment policies. tled ‘Visions for Regional Peace, Arab world and Africa,” he said. the world from the current finan- American countries, are open in national conference, which he Chairman of the Munich Stability and Development’, was Sail said African countries were cial crisis and to provide economic their quest towards a prosperous considered, the last chance to end Security Conference, Wolfgang attended by the Prime Minister pursuing a development model opportunities for all. and bright future for themselves the fighting in Syria. Ischinger focused on the Syrian and Foreign Minister H E that had jettisoned old ideas He called for the improvement and for other regions of the world. He stressed the importance crisis and the Palestinian issue Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin focussed on state-led projects. of incomes and the diversification Former Prime Minister of of the proposal put forward by and called for effective interna- Jabor Al Thani, the Chairman of “We want to go beyond state sup- of economic resources of the dif- France, Francois Fillon lauded Gordon Brown, former British tional action to promote peace the Administrative Control and port for development because that ferent countries, but he saw that the Qatari model of development, Prime Minister for the estab- and security in the region. Transparency Authority H E hasn’t worked. We call for the pri- some countries do not accept new pluralism and contribution to lishment of an Arab financial THE PENINSULA Abdullah bin Hamad Al Attiyah vate and public sectors to come and a number of diplomats and together to build roads, railways, dignitaries. electricity plants and other use- A member of the ruling Islamist ful projects in African regions,” Instability hinders Arab Spring economies Ennahda party, Larayedh said he said, adding this would be the Tunisia’s Islamist vision included aim of a roundtable with G20 DOHA: Political instability, recovery, despite the many chal- role in supporting development of He said Egypt after the rights for all and that the bal- countries in St Petersburg later lack of clear vision and a delay lenges. Economic growth was 3.5 Tunisia, while France, Germany Mubarak era, is looking forward lot box would be the ultimate this year. in implementing reforms are per cent last year after it plunged and Italy have also stepped up to a fresh start. protection against the return of Britain’s Former Prime hindering development of the to as low as minus two per cent in investments. “We want to achieve global despotism. Minister Gordon Brown referred Arab Spring economies, a ses- 2011, immediately after the revo- Mondher Ben Ayed, a busi- standards and are striving for an “Islam is a source of innovation, to Qatar’s active role in bringing sion of the Doha Forum was lution. Last year’s growth rate ness expert from Tunisia said Arab economic integration. We creativity and values. Tunisia will peace and stability in the region told yesterday. was higher than the 3.1 per cent that the Tunisian constitution is have 90m people and the poor in remain committed to its religion and its efforts and development Business experts and politi- pre-revolution growth recorded expected to be ready by July and Egypt are extremely poor. We and openness. But we will not be plans for the welfare of its citi- cians from Egypt, Tunisia and in the first quarter of 2010. the elections would take place by have a strong soft power. Our a theocratic state. Tunisia will zens as well as for helping other Yemen addressed the session Tourism sector that was badly December. jokes, our dramas, our Islamic not discriminate against non- countries in need. titled “Arab Spring economies- hit by the revolution grew by 30 “A permanent government is and Coptic clerics are popu- Muslims,” he said. “We want a He said that the region, over challenges and opportunities”. per cent by the end of last year. a necessary to take the reforms lar in the Arab world. But we democratic state because ... elec- the next two decades, will see an “We are paying the high cost of “Unemployment at over 60 per ahead. There is a delay in imple- can not survive if we don’t hold tions are the most important tool economic boom and an increase in transition. The interim govern- cent is the biggest problem fac- menting reforms. Bold decisions together,” said Mourad. Fighting to limit despotic practices.” the growth rate, which will apply ment is not in a position to prop- ing the economy. More than 70 are needed after the revolution,” corruption and doing away with Senegalese President Macky to the whole world. To achieve all erly implement reforms. There is per cent of our trade was with he said. subsidies were also cited by most Sail in his speech called on the that, more cooperation and inter- great imbalance between rural European countries and the Food production grew by 35 speakers as major challenges fac- Arab countries to seize the dependence among all nations and urban areas in terms of recession in Europe has inflicted per cent last year but inflation ing the Arab Spring economies. opportunity to invest in African is needed for the benefit of the development. Investment is not a major blow on the economy,” was at a high 6.5 per cent. Yahya Y Almutawakel, pro- countries where economies are region and the world at large, he attracted due to security issues “We want to continue trade Osama Mourad, CEO, fessor of Economics at Sanaa growing despite major shifts in added. He also touched on the and the continuing terrorist relations with European Union Agrogate — Dongolla Argeen University shed light on the dif- the world economy, importance of financing infra- attacks,” said Osama Al Saghir, but we are also looking towards Highway company based in ficult economic and political sce- “African countries have new structure plans and projects in one of the youngest members of countries in the East, North Egypt said the basic problem nario in Yemen. investment opportunities in major the region, helping the youth and the Tunisian parliament rep- and the South,” added Saghir. facing the Arab economies is “a Abdulwahab Alkebsi, regional sectors including agriculture, removing all obstacles in order resenting the ruling Annahda Later, replying to a question lack of vision and a plan for the director, Center for International energy and infrastructure. The to achieve the desired economic party. He said the Tunisian econ- from the audience, he said Qatar future” and “failing to plan is Private Enterprise was the mod- African Union has earmarked prosperity. omy had started showing signs of and Turkey are playing a major planning to fail”. erator. THE PENINSULA $68bn of infrastructure projects Vice President of the Republic Vegetable imports rose 45 percent in April: CPD report

DOHA: Vegetable imports at As local production slows down where vegetables were sourced between March and April. The over March to 5,020 tonnes, but last year, according to the CPD. the Central Market soared an after March, fresh vegetables last April. Potatoes, tomatoes, imports showed an 11 percent the rise was merely three percent Hamour fish was a riyal costlier incredible 45 percent last month sourced by the Central Market cucumber, cauliflower, lettuce and rise year-on-year in April. The when compared with April 2012. at QR24 for a kilogramme as com- over March, with India contin- from the Qatari farms had the cauliflower, besides onions, mainly Philippines, a major banana The CPD said Iraqi dates parison to March. The CPD said no uing to be the top exporter for third largest share in sales after were part of the import as well as producer, ranked first as fresh and Egyptian strawberry were changes were witnessed in sheep the second straight month. imports from Jordan. In March, of the local produce. fruit exporter in April, followed cheaper this time, while the prices prices between March and April. Imports totalled 22,240 tonnes they accounted for the second Details provided by the by Egypt, South Africa, India, of Chinese apple and Filipino plan- Australian sheep was the cheap- in April as compared with 17,134 largest in procurement after the Consumer Protection Department Australia, China, Pakistan and tains were stable as compared to est with the average price being tonnes in March, with onions Indian stocks. Saudi Arabia, Iran, (CPD) of the Ministry of Business Lebanon. March. Fresh fish and other sea- QR350, while the Syrian one was accounting for almost half (48 Egypt, Oman, China and Pakistan and Trade yesterday, however, Fruit imports also rose consid- food items were 21 percent cheaper the most expensive at QR1,300. percent) of the imports. were the other countries from did not talk of price differences erably (27 percent) last month this year in comparison with April THE PENINSULA

Qatar participates in IMEX Kahramaa hosts two-day

DOHA: Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) facilities to expand and attract MICE sec- power conference from today is participating in the eleventh edition tor business. DOHA: The 23rd meeting of member countries concerning of IMEX, the world’s leading gathering IMEX is the landmark exhibition for the Operations Committee of power grid-related developments of experts in incentive travel, exhibi- professionals working in the meetings and the Gulf Cooperation Council followed by presentations of all tions and events, which opens today in events industry, in an innovative and fast- Interconnection Authority participating countries including Frankfurt, Germany. paced atmosphere. It is run by meetings (GCCIA) kicks off today. The GCCIA. Leading a high level delegation — eight professionals for meetings professionals; it’s two- day high level meet- The second day of the meeting hotels and 10 tour operators — QTA will exciting, innovative and fast-paced – a real ing, hosted by Qatar General will address the readiness and highlight Qatar’s world-class facilities and hive of energy. Electricity & Water Corporation other important issues of mem- the nation’s promising development as a The show provides a one-stop-shop for (Kahramaa), will gather a ber countries in view of upcom- destination for sports, business, leisure and planners looking to book and organise number of its senior function- ing peak summer. The operations cultural tourism. worldwide meetings and events. The electric aries headed by Eng. Abdul committee will be headed by Eng QTA will host the new state-of-the-art show floor houses 3,500 exhibitors repre- Azzez Al Hammadi, Electricity Saleh Mohammad Al Onaiza, Qatar Pavilion with a design and features senting 157 countries, providing unparal- System Control’s department GCCIA’s Borad Member rep- that reflects QTA’s new vision to promote leled business opportunities. Over 60,000 manager, and Eng Ahmad Abul resenting Saudi Arabia. The and develop the tourism industry in Qatar. business meetings are expected to take place Qadir, section head, National committee will also analyse the Combining exhibitions and tourism, QTA at IMEX 2013. Control Centre of Kahramaa. development of power grid system has created a unique tourism offering as a Qatar has recently played an important The event, which will last and its challenges in GCC. business oriented destination with state-of- role in the Incentive, Business Travel and until tomorrow will have rep- The GCC countries gener- the-art leisure and hospitality. Meetings Exhibition - GIBTM, as well as resentatives and delegates from ally have similar load patterns, Through the participation at IMEX the ITB-Berlin and the ATM exhibition, all six countries of GCC includ- with peak demand occurring in Frankfurt 2013, QTA is focusing on new establishing itself as a world-class tourism ing GCCIA. The first day of the the daytime during the summer partnerships to offer its existing and new event organizer and a tourist destination event will be focused on a work- months driven primarily by high facilities which include sports ameni- of choice. shop to discuss key perform- temperatures and heavy loads. ties, convention, exhibition and meeting THE PENINSULA Qatar’s pavilion at the IMEX in Frankfurt. ance indicators (KPIs) of each THE PENINSULA TUESDAY 21 MAY 2013 HOME www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 03

Prime Minister holds meeting Heir Apparent with Tunisian PM

The Heir Apparent H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani receiving the Tunisian Prime Minister Ali Laarayedh at Emiri Diwan, yesterday. The Tunisian premier is in town to take part in the Doha Forum and The Prime Minister and Foreign Minister H E Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabor Al Thani with Senegalese President Macky Sall (left) and Australian Enriching the Middle-East’s Economic Future Conference. The Heir Foreign Minister Bob Carr at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Doha, yesterday. Apparent underlined Qatar’s support to the Republic of Tunisia and wished the Tunisian people success. 600,000 people in Indonesia A model law for domestic workers get free healthcare services

Students and professors at Qatar University prepare law to combat abuses Continued from page 1 Indosat, part of Ooredoo, has provided more than 600,000 people BY FAZEENA SALEEM of the employee. drivers, gardeners, babysitters It also specifies the obliga- in Indonesia free healthcare services through its mobile clinics pro- The model law was drafted by a and cooks,” she said. tions of the employee, including gramme launched in 2008. Indosat’s award-winning 16 mobile health DOHA: Some students and group of senior students together If the law is implemented, respecting the privacy of their clinics have treated people in rural areas who have limited access to professors of law at Qatar with professors through the legal domestic workers would get a employer’s house. hospitals and doctors. University (QU) have prepared clinic set up at QU’s Law College minimum wage that could be The model law includes a spe- “Indosat’s mobile health clinics have been a major success in a model law which, if imple- in collaboration with the John more than double what they get cial provision for ‘live out maids’ Indonesia, having treated hundreds of thousands at-risk people, mostly mented, will protect domestic Hopkins University School of now. They will also get sick leave who can be hired for work on children and women. workers. Advanced International Studies, besides annual leave. hourly basis. With support from the Leo Messi Foundation, we’ll be able to expand A model contract based on the USA and ten other universities Tuttle refused to reveal further “The model work contract will our mission to help more people living in Indonesia, and provide support model law, to be signed between in the region. details, saying, “Changes would be be according to the model law,” for healthcare initiatives such as vaccination programmes,” Alexander the employer and the domestic “There is no specific men- made to suggestions in the model said Tuttle. Rusli, President Director and CEO, Indosat, said. worker, has also been drafted. tion of domestic workers in the law draft.” “The worker will be able to ter- Future markets targeted by the mobile health clinic initiative include The model law and contract are labour law and they are one of the The model law suggests 24 minate the contract if they are Algeria, Tunisia and additional countries across the Ooredoo footprint. expected to be submitted to the most vulnerable group of people, consecutive hours of break from verbally, physically or sexually This also includes countries like Qatar that have a highly-developed Ministry of Labour in September. so we decided to draft a model work every week for domestic abused,” she added. healthcare infrastructure. In these countries, the mobile health clinics The model law has been law which would protect them,” workers, and they will have to The model law and model con- can be used to promote healthy lifestyles among underserved com- drawn up to help combat abuses Professor Myrna El Fakhry work only eight hours a day and tract for domestic workers will munities, youth and women. against domestic workers. It Tuttle at College of Law, Qatar should be paid for extra hours of be presented at a legal confer- “Bringing Ooredoo’s regional and global initiative of mobile health specifies a minimum salary, University, told The Peninsula work. Also, they should be pro- ence next month in Kuwait in clinics to Qatar, in partnership with the Leo Messi Foundation, demon- working hours, holidays and yesterday. vided with ‘decent accommoda- which the International Labour strates our commitment to promoting human growth and will enhance other benefits for the workers. “The model law covers all tion’ — at least a separate room Organisation will take part. the healthcare for many people,” Waleed Al Sayed, COO, Ooredoo It also mentions the obligations domestic workers, like maids, and a bathroom. THE PENINSULA Qatar, said. THE PENINSULA TUESDAY 21 MAY 2013 04 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME Doha goes up in convention centre ranking City jumps into 111th position

DOHA: Doha strengthens its and the relevant authorities to ranking among world’s most build awareness of the destina- popular convention destina- tion and increase the number of ictQATAR and QMIC jointly holding interactive workshop for their employees on communication technology and road safety. tions, moving up by 49 positions. Business Tourism Events that are The city now shares 111th posi- attracted to this metropolitan hub tion with Florence, Riga and San with deep cultural roots.” Juan, in a list of over 360 par- Members of both teams are ictQATAR marks Information Society Day ticipating cities in the recently at the IMEX show in Frankfurt released ICCA (International (Stand D 620) from today until Congress and Convention Thursday to promote Qatar. DOHA: The Supreme Assistant Secretary General for Masarak driver performance appli- to bringing you the technologies Association) 2012 Country and QNCC continues to raise the Council of Information and Shared Services. cation, ictQATAR and QMIC held to enhance road safety. You must City Rankings. profile of Qatar and has just won Communication Technology As part of its WTISD activi- an interactive workshop for their also do your part to realize the The rankings are based on the bid to host the annual ICCA (ictQATAR), in collabora- ties, ictQATAR installed the employees on ICT and road safety, full potential of these technologies the number of international Client/Supplier International tion with the Qatar Mobility QMIC-developed Masarak driver titled ‘ICT: Enabling Road Safety and reduce traffic accidents in our association meetings that rotate Workshop from April 10 to 12 Innovations Center (QMIC), performance devices in 10 of its and Intelligent Transport’. The country. Together, with the help between a minimum of three next year. celebrated the United Nation’s employees’ vehicles. Masarak workshop covered ways to utilize of advanced ICTs, we can ensure countries. The event will attract a number World Telecommunications System ranks drivers perform- information from the Masarak everyone reaches their destina- Adam Mather-Brown, General of international association cli- and Information Society Day ance based on their speed, accel- platform, the planned Qatar tion safely,” he said. Manager of QNCC, said: “This is ents who will have the potential (WTISD). eration and de-acceleration levels. Connected Vehicles Initiative and The purpose of the UN’s a commendable achievement for to bring future congress to Qatar. “This year’s theme, ICTs: The goal is to highlight driver a review of emergency road assist- World Telecommunication and the country as it demonstrates Since opening in December Improving Road Safety, is one that safety performance and encour- ance technologies. Information Society Day is to the commitment of all the stake- 2011, QNCC has played host to touches us all. It is also an excel- age safer driving habits through According to the United help raise awareness of the possi- holders working together to some of the most prominent lent illustration of the opportuni- the use of real-time information. Nations, more than 1.3 million bilities that the use of the Internet achieve the country’s vision in events from across the world and ties and challenges we face as new “We are pleased to partner people die in traffic accidents each and other information and com- becoming a world class meetings’ the region. technologies emerge. Technology with ictQATAR to demonstrate year, along with upwards of 50 munication technologies (ICT) destination. Qatar is actively To date, the Centre has hosted can play a valuable role in mak- the value of our Masarak plat- million injuries. Additionally, it’s can bring to societies and econo- developing its business tourism 347 events and welcomed 197,212 ing our roads safer and decreas- form and services in supporting estimated that traffic accidents mies, as well as of ways to bridge product in terms of destination delegates and visitors. The eco- ing the environmental impact of road safety through the use of our cost $518bn each year. the digital divide. May 17 marks appeal, improving infrastruc- nomic impact generated from driving. However, true road safety intelligent driver performance Al Nuaimi encouraged eve- the anniversary of the signing of ture, and investing in world class overseas delegates currently requires each and every one of us technology and applications,” said ryone to stop texting and driv- the first International Telegraph accommodation.” stands at an impressive $93m. to make a concerted effort to be Dr Adnan Abu Dayya, Executive ing to help save lives in Qatar. Convention and the creation of the “We are working hand-in- THE PENINSULA safer, more responsible drivers,” Director of QMIC. “Businesses, researchers and International Telecommunication hand with suppliers, hoteliers said Faleh Al Nuaimi, ictQATAR In addition to the use of the your government are committed Union. THE PENINSULA

Vodafone Qatar PHCC campaign on hand hygiene in full swing customer base DOHA: Al Gharrafa Health Centre prevent health care-associated infec- joined Primary Health Care Corporation tions. These infections occur when germs at 1,084,000 (PHCC) Hand Hygiene campaign as are transmitted by health-care providers’ many people die every day around the hands and the most common are urinary DOHA: Vodafone Qatar world from infections acquired while tract and surgical site infections, pneu- QSC continues to expand its receiving health care. monia and infections of the bloodstream. mobile base in Qatar, grow- Campaign is held under the slogan ‘Avoid Dr Ahmad Musallam Al Hamadani, ing its customer numbers by infection: Clean your Hands’ by organising General Practitioner at Al Gharrafa, 30 percent over the year to various lectures to notify their employees explained that thousands of people die reach 1,084,000 customers as about the risks and dangers of not following every day around the world from these at 31st March 2013. the five moments. infections while receiving healthcare. “We are proud that in just 3 PHCC, following the World Health He reminded the participants about the years of operations more than 1 Organization (WHO) guidelines, pro- five moments in hand hygiene and stated million customers have chosen to motes the five moments for hand hygiene, that “any healthcare professional who is become Vodafone customers. To before patient contact, before an aseptic involved directly or indirectly with the have 56 percent of the popula- task, after body fluid exposure risk, after patient needs to be concerned about hand tion using our services is a great patient contact and after contact with hygiene and should be able to follow them achievement for our sharehold- patient surroundings. correctly.” ers, staff and partners,” said Dr Azza Majali, Manager of Al Gharrafa Other health centres such as Umm Vodafone Qatar’s CEO Richard Health Centre, said: Hands are the main Ghwalina, Al Rayan and Al Jumiliya pre- Daly said. Vodafone will report pathways of germ transmission during pared lectures to warn employees about its financial results for the year health service; hence, washing hands is the risks of not doing the five moments of ended 31st March 2013 following the most important measure to avoid hand hygiene. a Board Meeting on Monday 3rd Doctors giving tips to the participants at Al Gharrafa Health Centre. the transmission of harmful germs and THE PENINSULA June 2013. THE PENINSULA

HEC Paris to set up pavilion at Roland Garros 2013

DOHA: HEC Paris, through Ramanantsoa, Dean of HEC their partnership with the Paris. “As one of just four Roland Garros 2013 tennis Grand Slam tennis tourna- tournament, will showcase its ments every year and more strong presence in the Middle popularly known as the East with a Qatar-themed French Open, such a well- pavilion from 26 to 28 May. attended, high-profile sport- HEC Paris — an academic ing event watched by millions institution in Europe and of tennis fans across the globe worldwide that offers a range will surely raise awareness of education programs for stu- about our strong links with dents and executives – joined the Middle East through HEC Qatar Foundation in June 2010 Paris in Qatar,” he added. and established HEC Paris in “We are proud to have a Qatar to bring world-class strong presence in the Middle Executive Education pro- East and, in particular, in a grammes and research activ- fast-growing environment ity to Doha and the region. like Qatar. Our partnership The programmes and with Qatar Foundation offers Partial closure of Wholesale research activities of HEC unmatched opportunities to Paris in Qatar are intended to the regional business world build corporate competitive- as well as to HEC Paris as an Market Street announced ness within the global econ- institution. Thus, as partners omy and are fully aligned with of one of the much anticipated DOHA: The Public Works the main construction works on Qatar National Vision 2030 to and highly competitive major Authority (Ashghal), has the Wholesale Street will ensure support the transformation of tournaments in the sport of announced that a section of the road users’ safety, and facilitate the country into an advanced, tennis, I am confident that Wholesale Market Street head- a smooth traffic flow to Alwaab competitive and knowledge- our Qatar-themed pavil- ing south and leading to Haloul area, the Authority added. based economy. ion will likewise be a major Street will be closed from Upon completion, Salwa During those three whole attraction at Roland Garros,” Thursday till the end of Friday. Expressway will ensure smooth days, the HEC Paris pavilion Ramanantsoa stated. Salwa Road users traveling traffic thanks to its four lanes (in will feature Arabian carpets, Roland Garros was a noted from the Industrial Area towards each direction), and four under- fabrics, flavors and photos of French aviator who studied Haloul Street can use the alter- passes, in addition to the upgrade Qatar, where HEC Paris aims in HEC Paris. Having joined nate roads during the tempo- of its four interchanges. to bring the Middle East to the French army at the out- rary diversion (as shown in the Salwa Expressway is part of Roland Garros. break of World War I, he was attached map). Ashghal’s nationwide road infra- “HEC Paris is extremely shot down and killed a month Ashghal said the closure is part structure programme that will pleased to be at Roland before it ended and one day of the development project that improve the way people and places Garros 2013 tennis tourna- before his 30th birthday in covers all Salwa Road intersec- are connected across Qatar. ment,” said Professor Bernard 1918. THE PENINSULA tions. Diverting traffic away from THE PENINSULA TUESDAY 21 MAY 2013 HOME www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 05 Qatar University focuses Serbian minister holds talks on quality researches College of Arts & Sciences holds Annual Research Day

DOHA: Qatar University’s Health Sciences; Biological Priorities Research Program College of Arts & Sciences & Environmental Sciences; (NPRP) projects and a total of (CAS) is focusing on strength- Chemistry & Earth Sciences; over QR2m for 19 projects in ening synergies among various Mathematics, Statistics & the Undergraduate Research disciplines as one of its thrusts Physics; Social Sciences; Arabic Experience Program (UREP) to further increase the number Language; English Literature under the Qatar National of quality researches which cre- & Linguistics; Humanities and Research Fund (QNRF). ate great impact to the society. Mass Communication. In terms of internal grants, Mohamed Ahmedna, Associate Increasing research portfolio the College recently won 12 Dean for Research and Graduate in areas of national priorities and university grants, 29 startup Studies, said collaborative work diversifying programme offer- grants and 33 student grants. through synergies would lead ings including graduate studies Recognising students as key to studies which have impact on are among the other approaches pillar to research productivity, issues of national importance and Ahmedna stressed the College the Annual Research Day show- The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs H E Ahmed bin Abdullah Al Mahmoud with producing well-rounded graduates is focusing on to improve its cases student research to key Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and Internal Trade and Telecommunications of the Republic of fit for the current demand of the research capacity and productiv- stakeholders. Serbia Rasim Ljajic. market. ity in the future. It also features a competition He was speaking at yester- CAS has already achieved for best student research awards. day’s CAS Annual Research a lot in terms of research both During the event the best post- Day which saw presentations within the university level and ers were displayed, among which of the best researches con- at the national level. Recently, four projects would be chosen to QNRS Forum identifies nation’s ducted by students from vari- the College was granted over receive awards. ous departments including QR46m for its 11 National THE PENINSULA six development priorities

DOHA: Qatar Foundation safety, integrated health manage- innovative research. for Education, Science and ment systems, desalination and “I am proud to announce that Community Development water reuse, cyber security and six grand challenges have been hosted the annual Qatar human capacity. prioritised today. Through our National Research Strategy Evaluating them based on their efforts to refine our agenda for Forum 2013 last week, in col- relevance to Qatar’s development the Qatar National Research laboration with The New York priorities, the criteria included Strategy, these six will also cap- Academy of Sciences. During their applicability to natural ture many of the other challenges the forum six ‘grand’ challenges resource preservation, urbani- we are still facing. But by select- were identified as fundamental sation, healthcare and informa- ing six, we can focus the approach to advancing the Qatar National tion communication technologies. in our strategy implementation Research Strategy (QNRS). Working to overcome these chal- and give ourselves the chance to The two-day conference, held lenges will set a clear agenda to build capacity across a number at Qatar National Convention further the QNRS and achieve of sectors nationwide,” explained Centre, gathered stakeholders the Qatar National Vision 2030. Alsuwaidi. from across the QNRS’s key sec- Faisal M Alsuwaidi, President “We will continue to pursue tors including academia, govern- of Research and Development at other challenges, but the six iden- ment and research institutes Qatar Foundation revealed next tified in this conference are what who collaborated in a series of steps for overcoming the six Qatar needs to take urgent action workshops that narrowed a dozen major challenges. on and will have the most posi- identified grand challenges down The coming phase of the strat- tive impact on Qatar in the near to six. Those chosen included the egy will be executed across the future. We also need to make sure development and deployment of nation’s institutes, universities, we have both the capacity and Dr Hassan R Al Derham (right), Vice President for Research, Qatar University (QU); and Dr Eiman Mustafawi solar energy and production of service providers, government, the interest from stakeholders (second left), Dean, College of Arts and Science (CAS), QU; seen with some of research students during the Annual high value hydrocarbon prod- industries and funders and is to undertake these challenges.” Research Day by the CAS at the Ibn Khaldun Hall of the university, yesterday. SALIM MATRAMKOT ucts, integrated mobility and road expected to nurture and enhance THE PENINSULA TUESDAY 21 MAY 2013 06 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MIDDLE EAST Over 60 killed in Iraq car bomb attacks Explosions target Shias; worst violence since US pullout

BAGHDAD: More than 60 corpses littering the ground. “One was in the grip of al Qaeda’s Iraqi people were killed in a series of the dead bodies was still grab- wing, which has regained strength of car bomb explosions target- bing a blood-soaked sandwich in in recent months. In 2007, Anbar’s ing Shias across Iraq yesterday, his hand.” Sunni tribes banded together with police and medics said, part of Five other people were killed in US troops and helped subdue al the worst sectarian violence a second blast inside a bus termi- Qaeda. Known as the “Sahwa” or since US troops pulled out in nal in Saad Square, also in Basra, Awakening militia, they are now December 2011. police and medics said. on the government payroll and are The attacks brought the In Baghdad, at least 30 people often targeted by Sunni militants number killed in sectarian clashes were killed in car bomb explosions as punishment for co-operating in the past week to over 200, and in Kamaliya, Ilaam, Diyala Bridge, with the Shia-led government. tensions between Shias, who now Al Shurta, Shula, Zaafaraniya and Three Sahwa members were lead Iraq, and minority Sunnis Sadr City — all areas with a high killed in a car bomb explosion have reached a point where some concentration of Shias. as they collected their salaries fear a return to all-out civil A parked car bomb also in the city of Samarra, north of conflict. exploded in the mainly Shia Baghdad, police said. No group claimed responsibil- district of Shaab in northern Iraq’s delicate intercommunal ity for the bombings. Iraq is home Baghdad, killing 12 people and fabric is under increasing strain to a number of Sunni Islamist wounding 26 others, police and from the conflict in neighbouring insurgent groups, including the hospital sources said. Syria, which has drawn Sunni and Al Qaeda-affiliated Islamic State In a separate incident, police Shias from across the region into of Iraq, which has previously tar- said a parked car blew up near a a proxy war. geted Shias in a bid to provoke bus carrying Shia pilgrims from Syrian President Bashar Al a wider sectarian confrontation. Iran near Balad, 80km north of Assad’s main regional ally is Shia Nine people were killed in Baghdad, killing five Iranian pil- Iran, while the rebels fighting to one of two car bomb explosions grims and two Iraqis who were overthrow him are supported by in Basra, a predominantly Shia travelling to the Shia holy city of Sunni Gulf powers Saudi Arabia city 420km southeast of Baghdad, Samarra. and Qatar. Residents gather at the site of a car bomb attack at the Kamaliya district in Baghdad yesterday. police and medics said. In the western province of Iraq says it takes no sides in “I was on duty when a pow- Anbar, the bodies of 14 people the conflict, but leaders in Tehran erful blast shook the ground,” kidnapped on Saturday, including and Baghdad fear Assad’s demise emboldened Iraq’s Sunni minor- Minister Nouri Al Maliki, whom 700 people dead in April, accord- said a police officer near the site six policemen, were found dumped would make way for a hostile ity, embittered by Shia dominance they accuse of marginalising their ing to a UN count, the highest of that attack in the Hayaniya in the desert with bullet wounds Sunni Islamist government in since the overthrow of Saddam sect. monthly toll in almost five years. neighbourhood. to the head and chest, police and Syria, weakening Shia influence Hussein by US-led forces in 2003. A raid by the Iraqi army on At the height of sectarian vio- “The blast hit a group of day security sources said. in the Middle East. Thousands of Sunnis began a protest camp in the town of lence in 2006-07, the monthly labourers gathering near a sand- When Sunni-Shia bloodshed The prospect of a shift in the staging street protests last Hawija last month ignited a bout death toll sometimes topped wich kiosk,” he added, describing was at its height in 2006-07, Anbar sectarian balance of power has December against Shia Prime of violence that left more than 3,000. REUTERS Father of shot Gaza boy Egypt strengthens Sinai security disputes Israel report CAIRO: Egypt sent police reinforcements to the Sinai JERUSALEM: The father of a Television footage of 12-year-old after an attack on a police Palestinian boy shot dead in Gaza Mohammed held in his father’s arms camp yesterday in the wake in 2000 yesterday said he was will- near a Gaza crossroads at the start of the kidnapping of security ing to have his son exhumed to dis- of the second intifada, or uprising personnel, officials said. prove an Israeli report denying he against Israel, became a central In Cairo, the presidency said was killed by Israeli gunfire. component in the media war between all options were on the table to The report released on Sunday Israel and the Palestinians. secure the release of the three by Israel is “completely fabri- The footage was broadcast by policemen and four soldiers cated,” Jamal Al Dura, whose son French news channel France 2 and held last week in the lawless Mohammed was killed almost 13 seen worldwide. peninsula. years ago said. Israel said the television report Eighty Central Security (riot “The Israelis are lying and trying was “baseless”, following an analysis police) units and 26 armoured to cover the truth,” he said, adding of the raw footage which also casts personnel carriers were that he had asked for an interna- doubt over how the boy died. deployed in north Sinai hours tional commission of inquiry into The report was released ahead of after a police camp came under the incident. a ruling on Wednesday in Paris on fire with heavy weapons, secu- “I’m ready... to open up the grave a defamation case between France rity officials said. to examine the body and even the 2 reporter Charles Enderlin and The dawn attack further bullets that penetrated Mohammed,” Philippe Karsenty, director of watch- heightened tensions in the he said. dog group Media Ratings. AFP peninsula after last week’s kidnapping. “The presidency did not nego- An Egyptian military truck carries a tank through the Sheikh Zowied town near Rafah yesterday to be deployed tiate with criminals,” spokes- in Al Arish city, in northern Sinai. man Omar Amer told reporters, implying that future talks were not ruled out altogether. blindfolded and with their The policemen, who worked against the abduction and in “There are many alternatives hands on their heads, identi- at border crossings, and soldiers solidarity with colleagues who on the table, but the goal is the fying themselves. One of them were kidnapped at gunpoint have closed the Rafah border release of those kidnapped,” is prodded by what appears to while travelling to their homes with Gaza and the Oja crossing Amer said. “We don’t want a be a rifle held by an abductor on leave. with Israel, MENA said. single drop of blood spilt,” he offscreen before another hos- Earlier yesterday, assailants Attacks on police and soldiers said. On Sunday, President tage says the kidnappers want opened fire “for 25 minutes in the sparsely populated penin- Mohammed Mursi ruled out the release of detained Bedouin using heavy weapons” against sula have surged since an upris- negotiating with the kidnappers “political activists”. El Ahrash camp in the north ing that overthrow president of three policemen and four sol- “What happened with the of the Sinai Peninsula, without Hosni Mubarak in 2011, as have diers who appeared to plead for video yesterday is disgrace- reporting casualties. cross-border attacks on Israel. their release in an online video, ful. We condemn it and we will “Personnel in charge of camp In August 2012, suspected although the security official respond decisively,” Amer told security managed to repel the Islamist gunmen killed 16 said no order had been received reporters. attack and forced the armed Egyptian soldiers near Israel’s to launch a rescue operation. The video was later removed men to flee,” he said, adding that border and commandeered an A video posted on YouTube from YouTube, which posted a a hunt was underway. armoured vehicle into Israel, earlier on Sunday appeared message saying it violated its Several police stations in Sinai where they were stopped by a to show the seven hostages, “policy on violence”. have gone on strike to protest helicopter strike. AFP

Two killed in Turkey Qaeda-linked operative hot-air balloon collision surrenders in Mauritania ISTANBUL: Two Brazilian people that died was a Spanish NOUAKCHOTT: A sen- Africa chapter to post messages. tourists died yesterday and 23 national. He told the Turkish ior operative in an Al Qaeda- Ould Boumama claimed to have other people were hurt after news agency the tourists linked group in war-torn been the target of an assassina- two hot-air balloons collided were part of a group of South northern Mali has surren- tion attempt, although he did not in a beauty spot in central Americans vacationing in the dered to Mauritania, a security reveal the origin. Turkey, officials said. region. source said yesterday. The surrender will be seen as The accident occurred over Turkish television said avia- Ansar Dine spokesman Senda a further blow to Ansar Dine Cappadocia’s sculpted rock for- tion authorities have launched Ould Boumama “went to the four months after France led a mations when one balloon col- an investigation into the acci- Mauritanian armed forces on the military operation to oust the lided with the basket of another dent. Ballooning has become border”, near the southeastern organisation and other Islamist balloon above and crashed to the increasingly popular in recent town of Bassiknou, on Saturday militias from the towns they had ground, the governor of Nevsehir years in Turkey. Several compa- evening, the source said without occupied across northern Mali province, Abdurrahman Savas, nies offer hot-air balloon rides giving further details. According last year. told Anatolia news agency. over Cappadocia, which is a to Mauritania’s independent ANI The militants and Tuareg “The lower balloon was torn major tourist attraction with its news agency, Ould Boumama was rebels took northern Mali in the and fell quickly,” he said, citing cone-shaped rock formations, transferred during the weekend wake of a military coup in the witness accounts. rock-carved underground cities to the capital Nouakchott, where capital Bamako last year that Savas said two Brazilians, and early Christian churches. he is being interrogated by police. left Mali, formerly once of the 71-year-old Maria Luiza Gomes The owner of the hot-air He first expressed a desire to region’s most stable countries, in and 65-year-old Mariua Rosas, balloon that went down said he surrender and be extradited to disarray. Ansar Dine later imple- “lost their lives”, while most was “shocked” by the tragedy face trial in Mauritania, his home mented a brutal interpretation of the injured suffered broken but said the pilot had taken all country, in a telephone call on of Shariah on the people of the bones. Earlier, a provincial offi- the necessary safety measures. April 17 to ANI, which is fre- north, carrying out amputations cial had said that one of the AFP quently used by Al Qaeda’s north and public executions. AFP TUESDAY 21 MAY 2013 MIDDLE EAST www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 07

Bahrain jails Shias over Friends of Syria in terrorism DUBAI: A Bahraini court new push for peace sentenced nine Shias to jail terms ranging between 10 and 15 years yesterday after convicting them of forming Meeting to discuss US-Russian bid to resolve conflict a “terrorist” group, a judicial source said. BEIRUT: The Friends of Syria representatives of President framework for a political transi- Cleric Ahmed Al Majed group, which backs the Syrian Bashar Al Assad’s regime. tion, but stopped short of speci- and a second defendant were uprising, will meet tomorrow For the first time in the fying whether Assad should stay jailed for 15 years, while a third in Amman for a new round of 26-month conflict, the opposi- or go. defendant was sentenced to 10 talks expected to focus on a tion, whose chief Ahmed Moaz Al And the main thorn in the years. US-Russian bid to resolve the Khatib resigned last month, has negotiations over Geneva 2 is the The three were the only country’s brutal conflict. not been invited to the Friends of question of Assad’s fate. defendants to appear in court, The group “will hold talks pav- Syria meeting. The opposition says Assad and as the other six remain at large ing the way for the international “The opposition has not been his regime’s departure are a con- and were sentenced in absentia conference on Syria in June, in invited. I think this absence is dition to any negotiations. to 10 years, the source said. order to reach a political solution because the Friends of Syria want The Syrian president has The first two were convicted to the Syria crisis”, Jordan’s for- to reach a unified position on the frequently rejected the idea of of “forming an illegal group eign ministry said in a statement. international conference,” main stepping down, while referring that aimed to jeopardise the Eleven top diplomats from opposition National Coalition systematically to both rebels and Members of the Free Syrian Army cook food on a street of Deir Al Zor. rule of law and obstruct state Britain, Egypt, France, Germany, member Anas Abdeh said. activists as “terrorists”. institutions from performing Italy, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Their common stance “will be In a weekend interview with their duties... through using Turkey, the UAE and the US, will revealed at the opposition’s meet- an Argentinian newspaper, Assad while Moscow has continued and opposition representatives. terrorism,” the source said, be attending the Amman meeting. ing in Istanbul (Thursday), where implied he would run for a new to support him and provide his France, meanwhile, refuses that quoting the list of charges. Ahead of the gathering, US they (Friends of Syria) will try term in 2014. regime with arms. Assad attend Geneva 2. The other seven defendants Secretary of State John Kerry and convince the opposition to More than 94,000 people have Even though Geneva 2 was pro- “Paris’ position is clear: Assad were accused of joining the will hold a joint news conference take part in the (international) been killed in Syria’s escalating posed by the United States and is not part of the solution. As far group despite knowing of its with his Jordanian counterpart conference,” Abdeh added. war, which broke out after the Russia, the sharp divide over the as we’re concerned, he cannot “terrorist objectives”. Nasser Judeh. In Turkey, the opposition is regime unleashed a brutal crack- Syria crisis has made talks lead- be in Geneva,” a French diplo- All defendants were con- Earlier this month the US set to choose a new leader and to down against dissent, a watchdog ing up to the conference all the matic source said on condition of victed for “possessing explo- and Russia, which support decide whether it will take part says. more complex. anonymity. sives”, the source added. opposite sides in the Syrian in Geneva 2. The international community is Discussions have focused above The source also said that there conflict, proposed a peace con- A conference in Geneva in June also split over the Syrian conflict. all on who should take part in needs to be an agreement that can ference dubbed Geneva 2, which 2012 called for an end to the vio- Washington, Paris and London the conference, which aims to be implemented on the ground. Tunisia says terror would bring together rebels and lence ravaging Syria and laid the have led calls for Assad to resign, bring to the same table regime AFP cell dismantled

TUNIS: A “terrorist cell” preparing to launch attacks against Tunisian police and army has been disman- Saudi signs accord to protect Filipina maids tled in the central region of Kairouan, the interior minis- MANILA/RIYADH: The deducted from their salary among domestic helpers from among the preventing exploitation of Filipina the demands and suspended try said yesterday. Philippines said yesterday it other safeguards, said Labour 670,000 Filipino workers in Saudi maids such as confiscation of the entry of new maids but in “A terrorist cell was disman- had signed a historic agreement Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz in a Arabia would benefit from the their passports to control them, September of last year, it agreed tled in Haffouz and a 23-year- with Saudi Arabia that would statement. “We are very confident accord which would also attract overworking them with no rest to a $400 a month minimum wage old who planned to attack protect thousands of Filipina that cases of abuse will be less more Filipinas to work in Saudi days and preventing them from and lifted the ban. the police and army has been maids from being exploited in after this agreement takes effect Arabia. returning home. About 10 percent of the arrested,” ministry spokesman the Middle Eastern kingdom. because the agreement ensures Under the agreement, Saudi It follows a row that erupted in Philippine population of almost Mohammed Ali Aroui told The agreement guarantees fair and humane treatment of our Arabia is committed to set up a 2011 when the Philippines insisted 100 million have gone abroad to reporters. He said the arrest Filipina maids benefits like a day HSWs (home service workers),” 24-hour hotline for labour dispute on a minimum wage for its maids work in better-paying jobs than was made on May 16, adding off each week while preventing she said. resolution, the department said. among other measures. they can get in their largely that two suspects had managed their hiring costs from being She estimated that 60,000 The agreement is aimed at Saudi Arabia initially resisted impoverished homeland. AFP to flee. Aroui showed pictures of three pistols, ammunition and electronic gadgets used to manufacture bombs which were seized during the oper- ation. Tunisia is facing an increase in extremist Islamism since the 2011 revolution that ousted Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. Israel cancels Unesco Jerusalem tour JERUSALEM: Israel said yesterday it had cancelled a visit by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) to Jerusalem’s Old City, saying the Palestinians had sought to politicise a conservation mission. No one was immediately available for comment at Unesco’s Paris headquarters. A month ago, it announced it would send experts to A woman hostage is evacuated by Israeli security forces following a hostage Jerusalem in mid-May to situation in the Beersheba yesterday. examine the state of conser- vation of the walled Old City, a World Heritage site. The future of the Old City, in a part of Jerusalem that Israel Man refused overdraft captured in the 1967 Middle East war and annexed in a move that is not recognised kills four in Israeli bank internationally, is a highly sen- sitive issue at the heart of the JERUSALEM: A gunman without disclosing the gunman’s Middle East conflict. shot dead four people execu- identity. Police initially described tion-style in a bank in Israel the incident as a robbery but yesterday after being refused later said the assailant appeared Saudi beheads Syrian an overdraft and cash from its to have known his victims and automatic teller machine. shot them without demanding for drug trafficking The assailant, identified by any money. RIYADH: Saudi authorities media reports as a former para- Witnesses quoted by Israeli beheaded a Syrian man yes- military border policeman, killed media said the gunman first terday after convicting him himself after police raided the killed the bank guard and then of drug trafficking, the inte- Bank Hapoalim branch in the shot three people who were lying rior ministry said. southern city of Beersheba to free on the floor, checking the pulse Mohammed Yousuf his hostages. of one of them to make sure he Ezzeddine was executed in the “It appears that we are talk- was dead. northern city of Qurayat, near ing about a lone individual who Police initially announced that the borders with Jordan, the came to the bank in the morn- two gunmen had entered the bank ministry said in a statement ing hours, sought cover for a and that one had been appre- carried by SPA state news debt, a loan, and did not get hended, but later said they were agency. it,” Internal Security Minister still investigating whether the His beheading brings to 41 Yitzhak Aharonovitch said on second man was an accomplice. the number of people executed Army Radio. Prime Minister Benjamin in Saudi Arabia since the start After finding that he could also Netanyahu called the incident a of 2013. In 2012, the kingdom not draw cash from the automatic “great tragedy” for Israel, where executed 76 people, according dispenser, the man “came back soldiers carrying weapons are a to a count based on official with a pistol and shot dead four common sight but gun laws are figures. Rape, murder, apos- people ... bank employees and cus- strict for private individuals. tasy, armed robbery and drug tomers”, Aharonovitch said. “It is not a common event trafficking are all punishable “He took a hostage, held her in Israel. An attack like this by death under Saudi Arabia’s for close to an hour or more. The must not (be allowed) to recur,” strict version of Shariah. moment the police forces burst Netanyahu said at a meeting of AGENCIES in, he killed himself - shot himself his Likud party faction in parlia- and committed suicide,” he said, ment. REUTERS TUESDAY 21 MAY 2013 08 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

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Another peace bid Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate

HE BEST thing about the Middle East peace process is that not everybody gets tired of trying. As long as a final deal is not in place, there is plenty In Iran, presidential candidates Tof room for manoeuvring. The road ahead is so long, winding and torturous that there is space for everybody to offer a helping hand. The latest efforts of US Secretary of State John Kerry divided over foreign policy to inject fresh life into the moribund Israel-Palestine peace process should be seen in this backdrop. Kerry will be BY JASON REZAIAN arriving in the region on Thursday for the fourth time in two Among the most discussed candi- Ali Akbar Velayati, a Johns Hopkins months to pick up from where he had left. He will be joined dates is a former president, two former University-trained pediatrician, who by British Foreign Secretary William Hague this time to ELIEF for Iran’s ailing econ- foreign ministers, the current and a served as Iran’s foreign minister from give a badly needed push. Following his last visit, Kerry had omy will be the top priority of former lead nuclear negotiator, and 1981 to 1997 and is a longtime adviser RIranians on June 14, when they the current head of the Non-Aligned to supreme leader Ayatollah Ali said he was working on a package to boost the Palestinian vote to replace Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Movement, which Iran chairs until Khamenei. economy as part of a framework of measures. He didn’t give as president. Foreign policy, however, 2015. For the past year, there have been the details. will take on extra significance in the It remains unclear who among the numerous reports that Velayati is Like the previous peace initiatives, scepticism rather than election, as Iran struggles to undo the nearly 700 registered will win approvals engaging in secret negotiations with hope abounds. Reports say Israeli and Palestinian officials economic and diplomatic isolation of from the Guardian Council, the body the United States, a claim he has the past four years. tasked with vetting presidential hope- repeatedly denied. are privately pessimistic about the chances of negotiations Facing staggering unemployment fuls. That group is scheduled to finalize At the May 11 news conference to resuming but are unwilling to publicly dismiss such a and a high inflation rate, few of the its list of approved candidates Tuesday; announce his candidacy, Velayati said, high-profile effort. It’s not clear what drives the US state candidates have offered more than campaigning is set to start Thursday. “We have the ability to both main- secretary to make a strong effort for peace. a vague recipe for how they intend Candidates who support Iran’s inde- tain our right to nuclear energy and The irony of the whole process to revive the slumping economy. But pendence and defend its international improve relations with the rest of the is that the Obama administration nearly all have touted their abilities rights have always done well with vot- world,” but did not respond directly to right Iran’s course and help mend ers, but a less confrontational approach to questions about how relations with Peace has failed miserably in creating an its problems with the international to foreign policy might now prove the United States might differ if he is atmosphere conducive for the peace community. more appealing to the Islamic repub- elected. talks are process because of the Netanyahu They do not, lic’s electorate, as the country tries to Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei, meaningless government’s public defiance. however, agree on relieve some of the pressure created Ahmadinejad’s top aide, has been active how to do it. by sanctions. in a range of posts integral to Iran’s as long as the Kerry’s previous three visits have produced no tangible results so far, While many That, say some analysts, will hurt foreign policy. Currently the head of of the most well- the chances of Iran’s lead nuclear the Non-Aligned Movement, an inter- US genuflects apart from both sides consenting Many of Iran’s known candi- negotiator, Saeed Jalili, whose inflex- national body of more than 100 coun- before Israel. to refrain from actions that would economic issues dates are not ible negotiating style is considered a tries, he previously ran Iran’s Ministry derail his efforts. But Israel has well-versed in main reason that international talks of Tourism and Cultural Heritage, violated even that promise. While are a result of economic policy, over Iran’s nuclear program have not which he used to promote his diplo- Palestinians have stuck to their part of the deal to postpone most do boast yielded better results. matic initiatives with longtime foes the international extensive for- His insistence on “resistance” as the Jordan and Egypt. pressing their case for statehood at international bodies, Tel eign policy expe- focus of Iran’s nuclear strategy is seen Mashaei famously said that he sees Aviv reneged on its commitment to keep a moratorium on sanctions that rience. In this as the continuation of a status quo no enmity between Iran and either settlement expansion by authorizing the construction of new severely limit the election, the two that many Iranians believe ignores the Israel or the United States, and he has buildings at Beit El. are inextricably struggles of the country. been a proponent of attracting invest- Barack Obama must do more to help Palestinians fulfil country’s ability linked, because “Jalili at the top of the ticket is not ment from Iran’s wealthy diaspora, their dream. He must muster the courage to advise Israelis many of Iran’s the most prudent course of action for which hard-liners have shunned. to export and economic issues the conservative establishment,” said For many observers, former President to seize the opportunities for peace. are a result of Mehrzad Boroujerdi, director of Middle Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani is the There is no doubt that Kerry needs to be given all support receive payment the international East studies at Syracuse University. candidate most capable of simultane- in his efforts and many diplomats are speaking about giving for its oil. sanctions that One of Jaliil’s predecessors on the ously addressing the economic and for- him ‘space’ and ‘encouragement’ to pursue his efforts. But severely limit the nuclear file, Hassan Rowhani, repre- eign policy challenges facing Iran. the realities on the ground are too harsh and daunting country’s abil- sents a more moderate approach to “Rafsanjani knows how these two are and this is not the time to indulge in symbolic gestures. ity to export and foreign policy, which appeals to many intertwined. He will try to convince the receive payment Iranians. leader that the long-term survival of Peace talks are meaningless as long as US genuflects before for its oil. Last week, Rowhani told Tehran the regime is dependent on lifting or Netanyahu. “The more educated, urban popula- University students that, “Some think lessening the impact of the sanctions,” It’s likely that much of Kerry’s attention will be focused tion draws connections between foreign they must fight with the rest of the Syracuse’s Boroujerdi said. on Syria, which is a more pressing issue, during his four- policy and the economic conditions,” world, while others think we have to His candidacy, however, is under day trip to the Middle East. He is expected to discuss with said Bijan Khajehpour, managing part- surrender. But there is a third choice, intense attack by conservatives, who ner of Atieh International, a consulting which is to have constructive interac- believe Rafsanjani’s diplomatic pragma- Netanyahu Israel’s recent airstrikes on weapons stores in firm based in Vienna, Austria. “Topics tion. We have to go on with the world tism would undermine the ideological Damascus and the risks of such action internationalising the such as sanctions and Iran-US relations based on our national interests.” tenets of the Islamic republic. civil war • will be taken up by the candidates.” Among moderate conservatives is WP-BLOOMBERG The other side Quote of Fake threats to flights the day

OW severe a penalty should losses incurred by the airlines, air- In recent years, some people have occur is arousing complaints that law a culprit receive for making a ports and passengers, not to mention made such threats to delay the arrival enforcement and the Criminal Code fake bomb threat? This has the psychological damage they have of a creditor or even just for fun, with- are too lenient on the perpetrators Hbecome an urgent question inflicted on those onboard the aircraft out giving any thought to the serious and they are failing to act as effective after two separate incidents last week concerned. consequences their threats will have. deterrents. disrupted 16 domestic flights. Airlines and airports cannot afford to At least 10 false bomb threats were I assure the Iraqi Two suspects have been appre- dismiss a threat as fake and they must reported in China last year. Too light a penalty for such an hended and will stand trial. But even if treat each threat as real. Although the motivations of such offence will only reinforce the belief people that they they are found guilty, they will probably They have to let flights that have offenders are not as malicious as that making fake threats is not a seri- receive a prison sentence of less than been threatened land as quickly as those of terrorists, the disruption such ous crime. (militants) will not five years, just as their predecessors possible and delay the take off of those a threat causes to social order, the It is high time the law is revised and be able to return did, even though the maximum prison still on the ground, then the police have psychological damage passengers made as detailed as possible to make sentence for such a crime is 15 years. to conduct thorough security checks of and crew on the flights suffer and the sure that such horrible crimes are ade- us to the sectarian The light punishments handed planes and passengers. The economic economic losses incurred may be as quately punished to deter others from down to the perpetrators of such losses for an airline can be millions of severe as a real terrorist threat. such reckless acts of folly. conflict. thoughtless threats do not match the yuan. That such bomb hoaxes repeatedly China Daily Nouri Al Maliki Iraqi Prime Minister TUESDAY 21 MAY 2013 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 09 Unending war against IEDs Learning the wrong lessons from Israel’s in Iraq and Afghanistan intervention in Syria BY DALIA DASSA KAYE lesson is that Israel has weighed in More than 60 percent decisively on the side of the rebel srael’s recent attacks on forces and that US intervention of US combat military targets in Syria to oust the Assad regime would have made clear the widen- help Israel. The Israeli interven- casualties in Iraq and Iing regional dimensions of tion was aimed at Hezbollah and Syria’s civil war. They have also its missile capabilities – not at fuelled debate about whether helping the Syrian rebels, par- Afghanistan — 3,200 the United States should inter- ticularly given that many of the vene. Look, some say, Israel acts opposition fighters are Sunni when it sets red lines, and Syria’s Islamic extremists who may over killed and 33,100 air defences are easy to breach. time pose as serious a threat to Israel’s involvement has energised Israel as the Assad regime. wounded since 2001 those, like Senator John McCain, Israel’s security establishment who argue for US military inter- is deeply ambivalent about the vention in Syria. Unfortunately, Syrian conflict. On the one hand, — stem from IEDs. the interventionists are drawing defeating Assad would break the the wrong lessons from the Israeli so-called “resistance axis” of Iran, BY MICHAEL D BARBERO actions. Hezbollah and Syria and pose The first misconception is that serious obstacles to the re-arming decade of combat operations in the Israeli strikes showed how of Hezbollah by Iran. On the other Iraq and Afghanistan has con- Israel stands by its red lines in hand, the war is breeding extrem- firmed that improvised explosive ways that bolster its credibility – ists who believe in the destruction devices, or IEDs, are the weapon a sharp contrast to the perceived of Israel. of choice for threat networks equivocation of President Barack Israelis would not welcome an Aaround the globe. While there are obvious dif- Obama’s stated red line that the indecisive US intervention that ferences between these two conflicts, there use of chemical weapons in Syria eroded US power and influence, are also common threads and lessons to be would be a “game changer.” as Israel closely links its deter- learned. Israel has stated that it views rent power to American power As Iraq fades from view and the United Marines take cover behind a Humvee as an improvised explosive device detonates near them during any transfer of chemical weap- projection and capabilities. The States focuses increasingly on post-2014 ons by Bashar Al Assad’s regime risk that US intervention in Syria a patrol in Iraq. Afghanistan, I fear that some will view the to Hezbollah as unacceptable. So could lead to an Iraq-like quag- threat from these networks and IEDs as its targeting of missile arsenals mire would concern Israelis, par- aberrations, unique to the Middle East or of Iraq and Afghanistan and, despite budget- threat networks that use IEDs. believed to be capable of deliver- ticularly if they viewed such an South Asia and to these two operations. ary and other pressures, institutionalise them — Training is invaluable. Our best counter ing such weapons appears to be intervention as taking American Unfortunately, trends and evidence show that in our security framework. Some to consider to IEDs is a well-trained soldier. We can pro- making good on the threat. But attention away from Israel’s threat networks using IEDs are here to stay. include: vide the best and most innovative counter-IED while such Israeli action against primary concern — the Iranian IEDs are makeshift weapons incorporating Threat networks learn and adapt. They capabilities to our war-fighters, law enforce- Hezbollah within Syria is an nuclear programme. destructive and lethal chemicals, military or are more agile and flatter than our govern- ment and first responders, but without the escalation, it is not new. Israel Finally, there are rumblings commercially available explosives, or home- ment, and they operate seamlessly. They use relevant training, the full capacity of equip- targeted such missiles earlier in among those favouring US inter- made explosives. The supplies used to assemble the Internet to communicate, raise funds and ment and tactics will never be achieved. the year and has been targeting vention that the successful Israeli IEDs are cheap and readily available at hard- share intelligence. We must become equally — We must identify and continue to invest Hezbollah arsenals in Lebanon strikes on targets within Syria ware stores. While the networks that employ adaptable, agile and flexible. in capabilities to counter the evolving threat for years. It also fought a costly demonstrate that Syria’s air IEDs seek instability, others have used this — The enemy is a master of off-the-shelf and from IEDs. During my tenure focused on war with Hezbollah in the sum- defence capabilities may not be indiscriminate weapon outside of battle-torn dual-use components. They use ordinary con- this threat, commanders in the field have mer of 2006 largely to degrade the as formidable as some suggest. regions, as was underscored in last month’s tainers, commercial fertiliser, wire, discarded acknowledged two tactical “game chang- group’s missile capabilities. While the use of air power in attack in Boston. batteries and scraps of wood to construct weap- ers”: constant surveillance from advances If Israel always acted on the Syria is worthy of consideration, More than 60 percent of US combat casual- ons. We, along with our allies, must figure out in manned and unmanned aircraft, and the basis of maintaining its cred- any decision should be based on ties in Iraq and Afghanistan — 3,200 killed and how to make it more difficult to use these com- application of law-enforcement forensic and ibility — a murkier concept than whether such options would help 33,100 wounded since 2001 — stem from IEDs. monplace supplies for illicit activities. biometric techniques on the battlefield. These many in Washington like to address the dire humanitarian We and our allies face an agile, adaptive and — We must resist the inertia to return capabilities remove violent extremists’ great- believe — it would likely already situation, not on how easily they resilient enemy whose ease of access to IED to our pre-2003 processes; instead, we must est defence — anonymity — and make them have launched an attack on Iran’s could be carried out. Israel’s lim- materials and unfettered ability to collaborate develop a rapid and responsive acquisition vulnerable to attribution and enable action. nuclear programme. Iran has ited air strikes are not necessarily and coordinate by social media and elsewhere process. As one commander told me, “We We must develop the next game-changing crossed countless “red lines” with good indicators of the risks and on the Internet make this weapon an endur- are in an arms race, but instead of years, the advances. no Israeli response. Some former limits that may emerge with the ing challenge for our military forces and our enemy innovates in days, weeks or months.” — Threat networks do not differentiate Israeli military officials believe kind of sustained air campaign domestic security partners. — We must see this as more than a military between overseas military operations and the Iran has already crossed Prime that would likely be necessary to Analysis of how unique tactics, tools and problem. Drones cannot be used to strike our homeland. We cannot allow self-inflicted stat- Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s achieve objectives beyond degrad- financing are connected among different way out and armour is not enough to combat utory, regulatory and bureaucratic challenges most publicly declared nuclear ing the military capabilities of splinters of the threat network has produced the IED threat. Success against a bureau- to impede our response to an unencumbered, red line — the one he famously Hezbollah. empirical evidence that as these networks cratically unencumbered enemy requires a agile enemy intent on bringing the fight to drew at the United Nations last The Israeli intervention in migrate, their weapon of choice follows. The seamless, holistic approach that integrates our domestic soil. September. Israel has not acted Syria has certainly raised the IED is being used in Syria, Mali, Algeria, all partners — military, federal, state, local, Global threat networks are not going to cease because of concerns and debates stakes of this conflict — and Somalia and every other global hot spot, and private-sector and multinational allies. operations or stop developing IEDs after coali- among its security establishment increased the chances of an no change is likely in the near future. — Money is the lifeblood of these networks, tion forces leave Afghanistan. Their weapon of about the ability of Israeli action expanding regional war. But it Around the world, there have been more so we must attack threat networks where it choice has proven too effective, cheap and easy to effectively neutralise Iran’s has not fundamentally changed than 700 IED explosions each month outside hurts most: their bank accounts. Our cur- to make. The US military must capture and programme. The lesson here is the realities and complexities that of Iraq and Afghanistan — for a total of more rent approach is disjointed, with too many institutionalise the hard-earned knowledge and not that countries should act for have so far restrained American than 17,000 explosions in 123 countries since organisations doing too little. Identifying the expertise from 10 years of conflict, and share the sake of maintaining credibil- involvement in this conflict. The January 2011. These statistics clearly indicate junctions between money, geography, IED this with our domestic security partners. That ity but that they should act when United States should take care that IEDs will remain a threat for the foresee- materials, social networks, legitimate entities is the only way to stay ahead of evolving threats they believe it serves their inter- to avoid misinterpreting Israeli able future. and government is difficult — but when we do and imaginative bomb-makers. ests and might make a difference. action as a reason to go to war. Because of this, we must capture the lessons succeed, the United States can disrupt global WP-BLOOMBERG A second potential mistaken REUTERS Republican wolves are out to get Obama

BY GARY YOUNGE substantial in size but insulated in question,” said Republican house in the first place because they of his time dealing with this. range, paid them much attention. leader John Boehner of the IRS didn’t fit with anything most Already a third of the he thing people often for- But over the past fortnight story, “is who’s going to jail?” people knew, saw or heard of Republican-controlled house are get about the story of the wolves have been out in force. The Some liberals are playing down Obama. There was no market for investigating the White House. At boy who cried wolf was Obama administration is beset by the brouhaha. After six months of their plausibility. These are dif- least one influential conservative Tthat, at the end of the scandals, of varying magnitudes, hyperventilating about Benghazi, ferent. Almost every substantial lobbying firm, Heritage Action, day, there was a wolf. For the past that would give conspiracists good all the Republicans have really political discussion since his first has told the Republicans they six years – since Barack Obama reason to be paranoid. First came uncovered is a turf war between election – be it about healthcare, should prioritise these scandals announced his presidential inten- evidence that the state depart- the state department and the the economy, taxation, guns, over any legislation that might tions – Republicans have been ment deliberately downplayed CIA. There is no evidence that immigration or drone strikes and divide them. “As the public’s trust crying themselves hoarse. Obama, the involvement of Al Qaeda in what happened at the IRS was kill lists – has, at its root, been in their government continues if they were to be believed, was a the attacks on the US embassy politically motivated, and eve- a debate about either the size, to erode,” wrote its head, “it is Kenyan-born communist Muslim in Benghazi, Libya, that left four rything to suggest the agency is competency, secrecy, efficiency incumbent upon those of us who with a forged birth certificate who dead, including the ambassador. incompetent and understaffed. or intrusiveness of government. support a smaller, less intrusive stole the election by registering Then came the revelation that the (Nobody is playing down the jus- Together, these incidents illus- government to lead.” millions of ineligible voters. tax collection agency, the Internal tice department story.) There is trate precisely those issues, creat- At a New York fundraiser “A lot of information about Revenue Service, subjected Tea no indication that Obama had ing a framework of credibility for last week Obama said of the Obama’s background is missing,” Party and other Conservative anything to do with any of them broad assaults on the legitimacy Republicans: “My thinking was said Abigail Billings, at a meet- groups (including 9-12) to special – beyond appointing the people of government. Public trust in that after we beat them in 2012, ing of a 9-12 group (organised by scrutiny over their tax-exempt who hired the people involved. His government is already at historic well, that might break the fever.” the conservative former Fox host status. Finally, it transpired that approval ratings have not dipped lows. This won’t do it any good. Instead they fed it, leaving the Glenn Beck) at a non-alcoholic the justice department, look- and, according to Gallup, people President Barrack Obama Second, while comparisons right in a state of delirium. bar in Lexington, Kentucky, in ing for a leaker on an issue of are paying far less attention to to Nixon are wide of the mark, Herein lies Obama’s greatest gift 2009. “The media in America is “national security”, obtained two these stories than they do to news Watergate was unravelling on things are beginning to look wea- – overzealous detractors with a not doing any research. They’re months of telephone records of stories generally. the inside pages. Once these balls rily familiar. It is about this time tin ear for the public mood. In not asking any questions. They’re journalists at the Associated There is something to these start rolling there is no saying in a second term that adminis- the hearings that have taken not reporting any longer. They’re Press. arguments. Yet they miss the big- where they will end up. Moreover, trations display the malaise of place so far Republicans have now opinionated talk shows. Conservatives can’t believe ger point and, in so doing, down- if Bush were in the White House, having been in office long enough overplayed their hand: skipping They’re no longer offering fac- their luck. They wait six years play the potential damage. There targeting anti-war groups, jour- for that mixture of paperwork, from presumption to assumption tual news coverage.” Billings, for an actual wolf and then three was nothing to Whitewater (the nalists and leakers, the very peo- arse-covering bureaucracy and to accusation unencumbered by like the 16 others gathered that show up all at once. Amid gratui- probe into the Clintons’ failed real ple making these rationalisations hubris to come to light. Obama facts, logic or proportion. Each evening, watched Fox News. A tous speculation they are compar- estate investment) either. But would never accept them. was only re-elected six months time the potential for building quick poll revealed that seven ing Obama to Nixon and calling that didn’t prevent the appoint- The problems for Obama are ago, but this is the first sign of public and political support on thought Obama was a Muslim, for his impeachment. “What we ment of a special prosecutor into twofold. First, each scandal, in lame duck disease. From now the matter concerned arises, they 10 believed he was a communist, don’t know, at this point,” says the affair, who would eventually its own way, has meaning beyond until 2016 will be hearings, inquir- squander it for partisan gain. The and none thought he was born in Mitch McConnell, the Republican find Monica Lewinsky. itself. Accusations about him ies, firings, depositions and sub- only luck Obama seems to have the US. Such claims were so pat- minority Senate leader, “is The public’s lack of interest also being a communist, Kenyan-born poenas aplenty. Obama insists had in recent weeks is in his ently ridiculous and so easily dis- whether it jumped the fence from means little. Nixon was re-elected Muslim did not resonate beyond there is plenty he still wants to opponents. proven that few beyond the right, the IRS to the White House.” “My with a whopping majority while those who wished to believe them do, but he’ll spend a large amount THE GUARDIAN TUESDAY 21 MAY 2013 10 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com INTERNATIONAL Twin car bombs kill three in Russia Troops kill two suspected militants near Moscow

MAKHACHKALA, Russia: Interior Ministry later put the Boston Marathon bombings in Two car bombs killed at least death toll at three and said more the US, Tamerlan Tsarnaev, three people and wounded doz- than 40 people were wounded. lived in Dagestan with his fam- ens yesterday in Dagestan, a Both explosions were near ily about a decade ago and visited turbulent province in Russia’s the headquarters of the court the region last year. North Caucasus region where bailiffs’ service and appeared The visit by Tsarnaev, who armed groups are waging an to have been detonated by was shot dead by US police after Islamist insurgency. remote control, said the fed- the April 15 bombings that killed Car bombs, suicide bomb- eral Investigative Committee, a three people and wounded 264 ings and firefights are com- Russian state agency. others, is being scrutinised by mon in Dagestan, at the centre Twisted wreckage of a car US investigators for signs of ties of an insurgency rooted in two could be seen near the building, with insurgents. post-Soviet wars against sepa- which was cordoned off by police, Russian President Vladimir ratist rebels in neighbouring and blackened chunks of metal Putin has ordered law enforce- Chechnya. lay in the street. ment authorities to ensure While they are rare in other ITAR-TASS quoted one police insurgents do not attack the parts of Russia, in a separate source as saying that the inci- 2014 Winter Olympics next incident in a suburb of Moscow dent may have been an assassi- February in the Black Sea resort yesterday, security forces killed nation attempt against a senior city of Sochi, which is close to two suspected militants alleged bailiff’s office representative. the North Caucasus. to have been plotting an attack Reports said that two law All those wounded or killed in the capital and arrested a enforcement officials and a bail- were apparently caught by the third suspect after a gunbattle. iff’s office employee had died. second of yesterday’s explosions, One elite police officer was Another investigator said the a few minutes after the first, the lightly wounded in the exchange bombs might have been remotely investigators said. of gunfire with the suspects — set off. The police closed off traf- Insurgents in the North Russian citizens but trained in fic across a large section of the Caucasus have often sought to Afghanistan or Pakistan — who city of more than half a mil- increase casualties by setting Police investigators work at a blast site outside a building used by court bailiffs in central Makhachkala yesterday. had holed up in a home in the lion people in a hunt for those off an initial blast to attract law town of Orekhovo-Zuyevo east responsible. enforcement officers and then of Moscow, authorities said. There were no immediate detonating a second bomb. where insurgents say they are according to the Caucasian Knot for preventing the region from Investigators initially said claims of responsibility from Dagestan, an ethnically mixed, fighting to carve out an Islamic website, which tracks develop- splitting from Russia. But his 13 eight people had been killed any of the guerrilla movements mostly Muslim region between state out of southern Russia. ments in the region. years in power have been marred by the successive blasts in in the impoverished North Chechnya and the Caspian Sea, At least 405 people were killed Putin launched the second war by deadly attacks claimed by or Dagestan’s provincial capital Caucasus region. has become the most violent in Dagestan in violence linked in Chechnya as prime minister blamed on the insurgents. Makhachkala, but the regional The main suspect in the province in the North Caucasus, to the insurgency last year, in 1999 and likes to take credit AFP/REUTERS

Ugandan police Nigeria relaxes curfew; offensive continues raid newspaper KAMPALA: Police raided MAIDUGURI: Nigeria relaxed fears of a humanitarian crisis if producer where Boko Haram He has won support for taking Watch are concerned the state of Uganda’s leading independent a curfew yesterday in parts of food supplies were unable to get has established bases and weap- decisive action, although many emergency will enable Nigeria’s newspaper yesterday and dis- the northeast where its troops through. ons dumps. War planes were used doubt whether Boko Haram, military to commit abuses against abled its printing press after are mounting their biggest But Lieutenant Colonel Sagir to destroy some bases in remote adept at going into hiding under civilians. it published a letter about a offensive yet against militants Musa, a spokesman for Nigerian rural areas on Friday. pressure then resurfacing, can be Ali warned soldiers against purported plot to stifle alle- from the Islamist group Boko forces in Borno, said the cur- The sect is fighting to carve defeated militarily. “harassing innocent people.” gations President Yoweri Haram. few had been relaxed and would out an Islamist state in Nigeria, The brigade commander for The UN emergency relief Museveni is grooming his son The Nigerian military has start at 6 pm and end at 7 am. He a country of 170 million people Adamawa state Brigadier General agency (OCHA) and the Niger’s for power, a senior editor said. sent thousands of extra troops to declined to give further details. where around half are Christians Fatai Oladipo Ali addressed 200 Red Cross said in a report that Speculation is growing that try to dislodge well-armed Boko Traffic remained at a trickle and the other half Muslims. troops that had arrived from around 1,500 people had fled Museveni, in office since 1986 Haram fighters from territory in Maiduguri, as many fright- Thousands have been killed since Lagos, part of an expected extra across the border into Niger in and one of Africa’s longest they control in remote semi- ened residents remained in their Boko Haram launched its upris- 1,000 sent to the state. the past two weeks, but it had not serving leaders, is lining up his deserts around Lake Chad, along homes. ing in 2009. “There will be no hiding place yet been established what their son Kainerugaba Muhoozi to the borders with Cameroon, Chad President Goodluck Jonathan Jonathan offered an amnesty for terrorists. The insurgents nationalities were. take power, a move that would and Niger. declared a state of emergency on on Sunday to any Boko Haram signed their own death warrants A total of 2,000 were expected. likely test loyalties in Uganda’s A 24-hour curfew had been Tuesday in the states of Borno, militants who lay down their by taking up arms against the “Humanitarian agencies fear an ruling elite. The Daily Monitor, imposed since Saturday over large Yobe and Adamawa, sending weapons and surrender, although Nigerian state,” he told the troops increase in the numbers coming Uganda’s most-read independ- parts of the city of Maiduguri thousands of extra troops to the analysts say the state of emer- yesterday. into Niger,” it said, adding they ent paper, published a private and other parts of Borno state, region. gency will further complicate The US, European Union were monitoring the situation. letter last week by General at the heart of the Boko Haram The operation has targeted efforts to resolve the conflict and rights groups like Amnesty The region also borders Chad and David Sejusa calling for an insurgency. The curfew had raised areas of Africa’s top energy through dialogue. International and Human Rights Cameroon. REUTERS investigation into allegations of a plot “to assassinate peo- ple who disagree with this so- called family project of holding Battle against summer and winter onto power in perpetuity”. New clashes erupt in DR Congo

GOMA: Rebels from the M23 movement and the army fought yesterday just north of Goma, a regional capital in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo which the rebels occupied briefly last November, both sides said. The fighting was the first involving M23 since December and erupted just two days before UN chief Ban Ki-moon was due to visit the region, including Goma, the capital of North Kivu province. The clashes also came a week after the first troops from a new UN intervention brigade arrived in the coun- try with a strong mandate to attack rebel groups. A participant jumps into a puddle of mud during a festival in Hergisdorf, Germany, yesterday. The people of Hergisdorf use the annual event to banish the winter season. The puddle jumpers (the ‘Dreckschweine’) play the winter, while participants dressed in white act as the summer. The participants in white use Dutch youth charged whips to force the puddle jumpers away, so that summer wins over winter. over stabbing of boy HERAKLION, Greece: A 20-year-old Dutch enter- tainer was charged with Germany seeks Kosovo-Serbia progress attempted murder yesterday after repeatedly stabbing a BELGRADE: Germany when they occur they have to Dacic stressed the “vital 12-year-old Russian boy vaca- yesterday called for “vis- be grabbed,” Westerwelle told importance” of EU talks for tioning on the Greek island of ible” progress in implement- reporters after meeting top Serbia, saying that further Crete, local officials said. ing a landmark deal between Serbian officials in Belgrade. delay in opening the lengthy The suspect, who has con- Serbia and Kosovo before He added: “If the concrete negotiations would have “dis- fessed to the crime, will be kept securing Berlin’s backing results (to implement the deal) astrous consequences for our under guard at the psychiat- for Belgrade’s bid to join the are visible, I can give a positive people and our country.” ric ward of Heraklion hospi- European Union. message to our parliament” The implementation of the tal pending trial as his family Foreign Minister Guido which should then give its nod accord was a key condition for claims he is autistic, a judicial Westerwelle hailed the April 19 to Serbia starting EU accession Serbia to get a green light for source on the island said. EU-brokered agreement to nor- talks. the start of EU accession talks Authorities on Crete said the malise ties between Serbia and “It is important to make in late June. Russian boy had been stabbed its former southern province as long-term brave decisions,” the Dacic is set to meet his at least 20 times and left bleed- “historic” but said momentum German minister stressed after Kosovo counterpart Hashim ing in the bushes behind the needed to be continued. meeting Prime Minister Ivica Thaci in Brussels on Tuesday debris-strewn parking lot of “Such historic circumstances Dacic, before leaving for talks to agree on implementing the his hotel. AGENCIES do not occur every day, and in Kosovo. accord. AFP TUESDAY 21 MAY 2013 INTERNATIONAL www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 11

US denounces Cameron faces tide against Muslims, Jews rebellion over WASHINGTON: The US yes- terday denounced what it called a rising tide of both anti-Mus- lim and anti-Jewish sentiment around the world as it urged all gay marriages nations to ensure freedom of religion. In a wide-ranging annual report on religious freedom, the Conservative Party’s splits deepen State Department voiced alarm at growing attacks against minority LONDON: British Prime the Conservative backbenchers’ groups and painted a bleak pic- Minister David Cameron faced demands and allow the gay mar- ture in nations such as China, deepening splits within his riage bill to proceed to the upper Iran, Myanmar, North Korea and Conservative Party yester- house of parliament, the House of Saudi Arabia. day as a divisive bill to legal- Lords, where it is expected to face Secretary of State John Kerry, ise gay marriage returned to stiff opposition. while acknowledging that the US parliament. Lawmakers are allowed a free record was not perfect, called The bill was approved by a com- vote on gay marriage, meaning religious freedom a “universal fortable 225-vote majority when they are not required to follow value” as he presented the report. it was last debated in February party directions because it is con- “The freedom to profess and despite the opposition of almost sidered an issue of conscience. practice one’s faith — to believe or half of Conservative lawmakers. The vote comes at a time Myanmar's President Thein Sein arrives at the West Wing of the White House for a meeting with US President not to believe, or to change one’s But dozens of disgruntled when Cameron is already under Barack Obama in Washington, yesterday. beliefs — that is a birthright of Conservative MPs are expected pressure from a large section of every human being,” Kerry said. to deliver a blow to Cameron’s his fractious centre-right party “I urge all countries, especially agenda by backing an amend- over his stance on a referendum those identified in this report, to ment saying that if gay couples on Britain’s membership of the take action now to safeguard this are allowed to marry, then het- European Union. Obama hosts Myanmar leader fundamental freedom,” he said. erosexual couples should also be Grassroots Conservative sup- Kerry announced the appoint- able to have civil partnerships. porters fear that with a gen- ment of Ira Foreman, who served The government warned it was eral election two years away, as President Barack Obama’s a “wrecking amendment” which Cameron’s backing for gay mar- in symbolic White House visit campaign outreach director to could delay the passing of the gay riage is driving traditional Tory Jewish voters, to fill the State marriage bill by up to two years voters to the UK Independence WASHINGTON: Myanmar development — including a com- November. To some, Myanmar Department position of special and cost £4bn ($6bn) in pension Party (UKIP), which had its best President Thein Sein yester- plete end to US sanctions. The represents the biggest success envoy to combat anti-Semitism. changes. ever electoral performance last day became the first leader of most critical test of reform will from his pledge in his 2009 inau- The report said anti-Semitism The main opposition Labour month when it made gains in local his country to visit the White come in 2015, when Myanmar gural address to reach out to US was rising in the media of Egypt Party, while it backs gay marriage, elections. House in nearly half a century, is scheduled to hold elections — foes if they “unclench” their fists. and Venezuela, where failed had hinted that it could join the A letter signed by more than 30 as Washington offers a strong testing whether the military and Many experts believe that a key presidential candidate Henrique Conservative rebels in backing current and former Conservative symbolic gesture to back his its allies would be willing to cede motivating factor for Myanmar’s Capriles has Jewish ancestry, the amendment because it argues local party chairmen and handed reforms. power, potentially to Suu Kyi. reforms was to ease its reliance and pointed to Iranian President that the government has failed to to Cameron on Sunday gave a In a scene that would have been In an interview with the on neighbouring China, which Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s make a convincing case against taste of the bitterness in Tory unimaginable just a few years ago, Washington Post published yester- developed an overwhelming influ- remarks questioning the extent extending civil partnerships. ranks. the former general entered the day, Thein Sein would not take ence in the proudly independent of the Holocaust. But the government and They accused him of “treating White House and into talks with a position on whether the Nobel country amid US and European The State Department report, Labour signalled later yesterday the membership with contempt” US President Barack Obama in laureate would be allowed to sanctions. which covered 2012, said that they were ready to work together over the issue. the Oval Office as a small crowd stand — saying the future direc- In recent weeks, the US ended “Anti-Muslim rhetoric and to defeat the backbench bid to “The bill could cost us the elec- of protesters converged outside. tion of reform was up to parlia- sweeping restrictions on visas, actions were clearly on the rise — derail the legislation. tion... therefore, prime minister, Critics say Obama’s invitation ment. But he is also not budging and top trade official Demetrios particularly in Europe and Asia.” Labour leader Ed Miliband for the sake of the well-being of was premature and takes pres- on the constitution’s allocation Marantis visited Myanmar to “Government restrictions, tweeted that Cameron’s “ina- the country and the integrity sure off Myanmar to address of 25 percent of seats in parlia- start discussions on economic which often coincided with soci- bility to control his party and future success of the party, abuses such as recent anti-Mus- ment to the armed forces, say- measures such as offering duty- etal animosity, resulted in anti- must not be allowed to wreck we urge you not to continue with lim violence to which security ing that the military preserved free access for certain products. Muslim actions that affected the Equal Marriage Bill”. He your policy of re-defining mar- forces allegedly turned a blind Myanmar’s independence. But in a signal ahead of Thein everyday life for numerous believ- added: “Labour’s commitment riage,” it said. eye. Thein Sein told the Post that Sein’s visit, Representative Joe ers,” it said. The report sharply unwavering.” The vote comes after a mem- Thein Sein, who took office as a the armed forces would “always Crowley, who has long been active criticised the record of Myanmar A source close to Culture ber of Cameron’s inner circle nominal civilian in 2011, surprised have a special place” in govern- on Myanmar, introduced legisla- on the same day that President Secretary Maria Miller, who is fiercely denied claims that he had even cynics by freeing hundreds ment and life in Myanmar. tion to extend for one year a ban Thein Sein was meeting with US responsible for steering the leg- branded grassroot party members of political prisoners, easing cen- The army seized control of the on the country’s gems — a key President Barack Obama. islation through parliament, said as “mad, swivel-eyed loons”. sorship and letting long-detained country then known as Burma in money-maker for the military. The State Department report she was “very relaxed” about a Party co-chairman Lord opposition icon Aung San Suu Kyi 1962, ushering in decades of iso- Crowley, a member of Obama’s pointed to allegations that offi- Labour proposal for an imme- Andrew Feldman, a schoolmate enter parliament. lation. Military ruler Ne Win in Democratic Party from New York, cials in Myanmar fanned a wave diate consultation on extending of Cameron’s at the elite Eton Speaking at the office of Voice 1966 was the last leader to visit said he was “very concerned” of violence targeting the mostly civil partnerships to heterosexual College, has strenuously denied of America on Sunday, Thein the White House, where he met about human rights violations Muslim Rohingya community couples. rumours linking him with the Sein said he would tell Obama president Lyndon Johnson. in Myanmar, including “brutal and said that Myanmar promoted The agreement to put the mat- comments and said he was con- that the reform path is stable but Obama has made Myanmar attacks” in recent months against Theravada Buddhism over other ter to consultation should defuse sidering legal action. AFP that Myanmar needed economic a key priority and visited in the Muslim minority. AFP faiths. AFP

Canadian PM heads to Peru and Colombia

OTTAWA: Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper will head to Peru and Colombia tomorrow and Thursday, looking to bolster trade with Latin America and beyond. Harper last travelled to Peru in 2008 for an APEC leaders summit, but this will be his first state visit, during which he will meet with President Ollanta Humala and his cabinet. Since a Canada-Peru free trade agreement took effect in August 2009, bilateral trade — largely in agricultural products, machinery, metals and British astronaut Tim Peake talks to Prime Minister David Cameron inside 10 Downing Street, in London, yesterday. mineral ores — has doubled to Can$4.2bn ($4.1bn). Harper is expected to consult with Humala on bilateral and regional trade Britain’s ‘Major Tim’ to fly to ISS possibilities through the emerging Pacific Alliance, LONDON: A former army the six-month mission. “The mis- reference to David Bowie’s 1969 before he later meets with helicopter pilot was yester- sion to the International Space song “Space Oddity”, which tells the group. day named as the first “home- Station is going to be a wonderful the tale of lonely astronaut Major The two are set to dis- grown” British astronaut to opportunity, not just for Europe Tom. cuss the Trans-Pacific head to the International Space and European science but the He uses Twitter under the Partnership (TPP), a pro- Station. UK as well,” he said at a press handle @astro_timpeake, and posed free trade agreement Major Tim Peake, 41, will conference in London. there are hopes he could take between Australia, Brunie, fly out to the ISS in November Prime Minister David over from Canadian astronaut Chile, Canada, Malaysia, 2015 as part of a six-man crew, Cameron said it was “a momen- Commander Chris Hadfield as Mexico, New Zealand, becoming the first Briton ever tous day, not just for Tim Peake the ISS’s chief tweeter. Peru, Singapore, the United to travel to space on a British but for Great Britain”. Hadfield, who returned to States and Vietnam. Japan government-funded mission. “I am sure he will do us proud Earth last week, delighted has also expressed interest British-born astronauts have and I hope that he will inspire Twitter users during his six- but is not yet a full negoti- previously gone into orbit as US the next generation to pursue month mission with spectacular ating partner. Harper will citizens through NASA, or on exciting careers in science and images taken from the ISS and also attend a leaders’ sum- privately-funded ventures organ- engineering,” the prime minister insights into daily life in space. mit hosted by the Pacific ised with Russian help. said. He even posted a video of him- Alliance — comprising Peake said it was a “true privi- Peake, who will be on board the self singing “Space Oddity” as he Chile, Colombia, Peru and lege” to have been chosen from ISS for six months, has swiftly floated in zero gravity with his Mexico — in Cali, Colombia, more than 8,000 applicants for been dubbed “Major Tim” in guitar. AFP on Thursday. AFP TUESDAY 21 MAY 2013 12 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com ASIA / PHILIPPINES

Town official N Korea fires two more missiles slain in Davao DAVAO CITY: Gunmen on motorbikes shot and killed an UN chief says it is time for Pyongyang to resume dialogue and lower tensions elected town official in Davao Oriental, police confirmed SEOUL: North Korea fired short-range guided missiles off yesterday. its sixth short-range missile in its east coast on Saturday and Davao Oriental police three days yesterday, defying another on Sunday. chief Superintendent Jose warnings from UN chief Ban South Korea had labelled the Carumba said Romie Almacin, Ki-moon and South Korea after weekend tests “deplorable”, while elected councilor of Governor a flurry of similar tests at the UN chief Ban Ki-moon urged Generoso town, was on his way weekend. Pyongyang to exercise restraint. to his farm aboard a motorcy- The latest firing was confirmed “It is time for them to resume cle when he was attacked by by the South’s Joint Chiefs of Staff dialogue and lower the tensions,” four assailants in Tibanban vil- (JCS), who said it was unclear Ban said in Moscow on Sunday. lage past 8pm on Sunday. if the North was testing guided North Korea argues that the Almacin succumbed to multi- missiles or rockets from multiple real provocation is coming from ple gunshot wounds in the back launchers. South Korea and the United and neck. “North Korea launched two States, which have carried out a projectiles yesterday — one in series of small and large-scale joint Jet crashes into the morning and the other in the military drills in recent months. afternoon,” a JCS spokesman said. Yesterday, South Korea’s sea off Taiwan Such drills are not unusual but President Park Geun-Hye’s top they come as the Korean penin- security advisor, Kim Jang-Soo, TAIPEI: A Mirage 2000 sula is only just emerging from again urged Pyongyang to desist fighter jet, which was on a flight a period of particularly elevated from any more drills. training mission, crashed into military tensions triggered by the “Whether it’s just a test or a waters off northwest county North’s nuclear test in February. show of force, the North should Hsinchu in Taiwan yesterday In a statement yesterday, not get involved in actions that morning, according to reports. Pyongyang angrily rejected criti- create tension,” Kim said. Two pilots have been rescued cism that the missile exercises At one point, North Korea following an ejection from the were a deliberate attempt to kick had been primed to test a pair Japan's Ground Self-Defence Force soldiers check Patriot Advanced Capability-3 missile interceptor units to craft before the crash, China’s off a fresh cycle of tensions. of medium-range missiles, but News Agency reported. counter North Korea's possible launch of ballistic missiles at the Defence Ministry in Tokyo. “Military training ... is the US intelligence said the weapons The cause of the crash is still indisputable right of any sovereign were removed from their launch under investigation. nation,” the North’s Committee pads in early May. South Korea has proposed for- “A more pressing issue than closed, and Seoul has continued The latest accident came five for the Peaceful Reunification of The most significant fallout mal talks on recovering stockpiles removing the finished goods is to supply a minimum amount of days after an F-16 fighter jet Korea said. from the recent months of sabre- of raw materials and finished whether the complex will collapse electricity. crashed during a routine train- “Viciously taking issue with our rattling has been the withdrawal goods the South Korean firms or not,” said a spokesman for the Owners of the South Korean ing in waters near southwest military’s rocket firing training ... of both sides from the Kaesong left behind, but Pyongyang yes- North side of the management firms in the complex yesterday said Taiwan’s Chiayi County. is an unacceptable challenge and a joint industrial park which lies terday suggested any dialogue committee that runs Kaesong. they were the victims of a fight wanton provocation,” it said. 10 kilometres over the border in should focus on the overall future Neither of the two Koreas has between Seoul and Pyongyang. Three new wind North Korea fired three North Korea. of the project. officially declared the complex AFP farms approved

MANILA: The Philippines has approved three wind farm projects that will gener- Asia-Pacific leaders Manila, Taipei to cooperate in probes ate 208 megawatts, enough to power more than 40,000 mid- MANILA: The Philippines said between the two neighbours. boat, killing Hung Shih-cheng, a dle-class homes, an energy yesterday it would make “coor- “There will be coordinated 65-year-old crewman. official said yesterday. warn of water conflict dinated efforts” with Taiwan efforts or collaborations between Taiwan’s President Ma Ying- The wind projects will be CHIANG MAI: Fierce competi- sweeping “Chiang Mai declara- to look into the fatal shoot- the two teams from the NBI jeou has termed the killing the first to benefit from an tion for water could trigger con- tion” pledging to build regional ing of a Taiwanese fisherman (National Bureau of Investigation) “cold-blooded murder” while the incentive scheme which aims flict unless nations cooperate to resilience to natural disasters, but stopped short of a joint and Taiwanese counterparts in coastguard said the fishing boat to ensure half the country’s share the diminishing resource, share technical skills on man- investigation. the spirit of cooperation,” she told intruded into Philippine waters energy comes from renewable leaders from Asia-Pacific nations agement of the resource and push Justice Secretary Leila de Lima reporters. and that they had to open fire sources by 2030, compared warned yesterday. water security to the top of the said the two investigating groups She said members of the when it tried to ram their vessel. with about 39 percent cur- From Central to Southeast agenda. would not conduct a joint probe NBI, which is under her Justice De Lima said an NBI team rently, the official said. Asia, regional efforts to secure Asian nations need to plough into the shooting of the fisher- Department, met with Taiwanese would fly to Taiwan to examine The three projects are due water have sparked tensions an estimated $380bn into water man by the Philippine coast- investigators yesterday regarding the fishing boat and interview to be operational by early 2015. between neighbours reliant and sanitation systems in the dec- guard, despite repeated calls from their cooperation, describing the survivors while the Taiwanese on rivers to sustain booming ade to 2020 if they are to achieve Taiwan to do so. meeting as a “cordial discussion”. investigators would be given Majority reject populations. water security, Brunei Sultan Instead she said investigators The two teams are looking access to their evidence, including Breakneck urbanisation, cli- Hassanal Bolkiah told the forum. from both sides would help each into the May 9 incident when statements from the coastguard mayor’s remark mate change and surging demand The “vital undertaking” comes other in separately looking into a Philippine coastguard vessel workers. from agriculture have heaped against a backdrop of competition the incident that has strained ties fired upon a Taiwanese fishing AFP TOKYO: A large majority pressure on scarce water sup- that “could lead to international of Japanese people disagree plies, while the majority of people disputes”, he cautioned. with outspoken Osaka mayor in Asia-Pacific still lack access to One such row is between Toru Hashimoto, who said safe water despite strong eco- Uzbekistan and its neighbours women forced to provide sex nomic growth. Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, which during World War II were “There could be a fight over want to build two of the world’s Unrest in Bangladesh garment hub a military necessity, polls resources,” Thailand’s Prime biggest hydro-electric power issued yesterday said. Minister Yingluck Shinawatra stations. BANGLADESH: Bangladeshi wages. We fired rubber bullets following the collapse of a nine- In a poll of 1,550 Japanese cautioned in an address to a Speaking at the conference on police fired rubber bullets and and tear gas to disperse them storey garment factory complex households conducted by the regional water security forum in Sunday, Tajik President Emomali tear gas at thousands of gar- after they became violent and in which 1,127 people were killed. Mainichi Shimbun newspaper, the northern Thai city of Chiang Rakhmon defended his coun- ment workers yesterday as they occupied a road,” Ashulia police Angry workers have been 71 percent of respondents said Mai. try’s right to exploit its natural demanded a wage hike at a pro- chief Badrul Alam said, say- demanding the execution of Hashimoto’s comments were “No country in this region can resources but pledged to pursue a test in a manufacturing hub ing that some of the protesters the owner of the complex and a “inappropriate”. In a separate handle these challenges alone,” “peaceful solution” to the dispute outside the capital Dhaka. had hurled stones at police and big rise in their basic monthly survey among 3,600 households she said, hailing forums such as which has seen angry rhetoric Police said they reacted after attacked vehicles. wage, which was fixed at $38 in by the Asahi Shimbun news- the Asia-Pacific Water Summit as soar over recent months. workers blocked a key highway in Alam said about 20,000 work- November 2010, prompting Pope paper, 75 percent of those who the route to satisfying countries’ Bangladeshi Prime Minister the Ashulia industrial area, home ers took part in the protest, but Francis to compare the pay to answered said the comments thirst peacefully. Sheikh Hasina cited a water- to hundreds of factories which the area head of industrial police, that of “slave labour”. were “problematic”. A Thai firm is behind a con- sharing treaty between her make clothing for Western retail- Mustafizur Rahman, put the Unions want the basic monthly troversial dam over the Mekong nation and India over the Ganges ers such as Walmart. number at around 12,000. rate to be raised to around $100. Basri is new river in Laos, a project decried by river as an example of successful Factories in the hub only reo- Ekattor television, a private There has been virtually no downstream countries Vietnam water diplomacy. “Only judicious pened last week following unrest channel, said 50 people were work at hundreds of factories at Indonesian FM and Cambodia, which fear it could management of access to water sparked by the country’s worst injured in clashes between the Ashulia since the April 24 building ruin their farming and fishing resources” will prevent conflict, industrial tragedy, which killed workers and police. collapse which highlighted appall- JAKARTA: Indonesian industries. she said. more than 1,100 people. Plants at Ashulia reopened on ing safety conditions in the sector. President Susilo Bambang Delegates yesterday adopted a AFP “They were demanding higher Friday after two weeks of unrest AFP Yudhoyono yesterday named the country’s investment chief as the new finance minister, putting him in Factory blast kills 13 charge of Southeast Asia’s top economy at a time of Nepal investigates ‘illegal’ major challenges. Chatib Basri, who is taking on the role ahead of elections Everest broadcast in 2014, replaces Hatta Rajasa, who was stand-in finance min- KATHMANDU: A British The mountain has had mobile ister for a few weeks after the mountaineer’s interview with phone coverage for several years. previous incumbent left amid the BBC on his smartphone But Purnachandra Bhattarai, growing complaints about his from the top of Mount Everest joint secretary of Nepal’s tourism reformist agenda. has stirred controversy with ministry, said Hughes had broken the Nepalese government call- the law by not seeking permis- Factory mishap ing the broadcast “illegal”, offi- sion from the government for his cials said yesterday. broadcast. injures 23 British mountaineer Daniel “Even the tourism ministry Hughes gave a live video inter- has to seek permission from PHNOM PENH: A col- view to the BBC on his smart- the communication ministry to lapsing structure injured 23 phone from the 8,848-metre peak film, broadcast or conduct media workers at a Cambodian fac- on Sunday morning. related events on Everest,” tory producing garments for “This is the world’s first live Bhattarai said. a top Western brand, police video call — never been done He said Hughes’ trekking said, the latest incident to before — from the rooftop of the agency was under investigation raise concerns about regional world,” said the climber while as a result of the incident but did industrial safety. breathing heavily through an oxy- not elaborate further. At least 23 workers were gen mask and wearing a clown’s During a so-called “fair injured at a Cambodian factory red nose for charity. weather” window on Sunday, 146 that produced garments for a “I don’t have a camera man with people reached the summit of the top Western brand yesterday, me. It’s me with a pole, an HTC world’s highest peak, featuring police said, the latest incident smartphone... and of course my red teams claiming records for the to raise concerns about indus- Rescuers look for survivors in damaged buildings after a blast ripped through an explosives factory in Zhangqiu, nose. It’s a very proud moment to first women from Saudi Arabia trial safety in the region. in China’s Shandong province, killing 13 people and injuring 19, Xinhua news agency reported yesterday. be here and two-and-a-half years and Pakistan. AGENCIES in the making,” he added. AFP TUESDAY 21 MAY 2013 PAKISTAN / AFGHANISTAN www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 13 Afghan blast Khan’s party wins Karachi seat in repoll KARACHI: The party of former Pakistani cricket hero Imran Khan secured victory in a repeat election held in one kills 14 people constituency of violence-plagued Karachi, election officials said yesterday. Voting was held under tight Bomber targets provincial official security in 43 polling stations on Sunday, a day after a senior offi- MAZAR-I-SHARIF: A sui- the bombing on the “enemies of cial of Khan’s Tehreek-e-Insaaf cide bomber struck outside gov- Afghanistan”, a phrase Afghan (PTI) party was shot dead outside ernment buildings in northern officials often use to refer to the her home in the city. Afghanistan yesterday, killing Taliban, though there was no Polling was re-run after com- 14 people including a local poli- immediate claim of responsibility. plaints of ballot-stuffing in the tician in the latest attack to Karzai said that the attack was upmarket district of the vast port target provincial officials. “a cowardly act against all Islamic city, Pakistan’s economic engine, Emergency services rushed to teachings and human values”. during the May 11 general election. the scene and took the wounded Baghlan is located in the more The PTI’s Arif Alvi secured to hospital after the bomber, peaceful north of Afghanistan but 77,659 votes to beat his closest who was wearing police uniform, it sees regular attacks by Taliban rival Khushbakht Shujaat of the blew himself up next to Rasoul insurgents. Muttahida Qaumi Movement Mohseni, the head of Baghlan’s As international troops with- (MQM) who polled 30,365 votes, provincial council. draw from the country, the election commission spokesman Also among the dead were Taliban has increasingly targeted Najib Ahmed said giving the unof- seven police guards and several Afghan politicians, government ficial results. Troops, police and other people waiting to speak to officials and the security forces. paramilitary rangers backed up Mohseni, who was walking into The insurgents launched their by armoured personnel carriers the government offices in Pul-e- annual “spring offensive” last guarded polling stations in the Khumri, the capital of Baghlan month vowing to use suicide NA-250 constituency after PTI province, when he was killed. blasts to inflict maximum casu- provincial vice-president Zahra Aleema Khan (centre), sister of the leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) political party, Imran Khan, addresses “I collected information from alties and warning Afghans work- Shahid Hussain was killed on different hospitals and the death ing for President Karzai’s regime Saturday night. supporters during a protest against the killing of Zara Shahid Hussain, a leading member of PTI, outside the toll is 14. Another nine people are to distance themselves from the Her death followed a bloody elec- mausoleum of Mohammad Ali Jinnah in Karachi yesterday. wounded,” Zubair Akbary, the government. tion campaign marked by more provincial public health director, Yesterday’s attack came a day than 150 killings since mid-April. The MQM has long dominated responsibility for the killing of party was to hold a rally later in said. after at least 10 Afghan police Khan was quick to pin the blame on in Karachi but lost seats at the Zara Shahid Hussain on Saturday the evening and elsewhere in the Police said the bomber, who was were killed in separate incidents. the MQM and specifically its chief election and senior party leader outside her home in the upscale city. “We won’t allow Imran Khan on foot, had targeted Mohseni -- In one of the incidents, Taliban Altaf Hussain, who lives in exile Farooq Sattar rejected the results Defence area of Karachi, capping to come Karachi if he continues the head of Baghlan provincial fighters attacked a security check in London, saying he had “openly of what he called the “farcical” a bloody election in which about with these baseless allegations,” council, an elected body in each post in the Muqur district of threatened PTI workers and lead- re-run poll. 150 people were killed nationwide. senior MQM member Nabeel of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces that Ghazni province, killing six police. ers through public broadcasts”. The election was won by the MQM leaders condemned the Gabol said as protesters chanted liaises between residents and the Afghan security forces are mov- The outcome was not a surprise Pakistan Muslim League (N) of killing by unidentified gunman and anti-Khan slogans. local government. ing onto the front line against the as the MQM boycotted Sunday’s former prime minister Nawaz demanded a retraction from Khan. There was no sign of violence, “The suicide bombing was insurgents, and suffering heavier partial polls after its demand for Sharif, who is set to serve an The May 11 elections gave the but the mood of protests in in front of the provincial coun- casualties, as the 100,000 Nato re-polling in the entire constitu- unprecedented third term as pre- MQM 18 of 19 national assem- Karachi, Pakistan’s biggest city, cil building in the city of Pul- combat troops prepare to exit by ency was rejected by the elec- mier nearly 14 years after he was bly seats in Karachi, which has can turn quickly. e-Khumri,” Sadeq Muradi, the end of next year. tion commission. “Our victory deposed in a coup. long been the party’s power base. Karachi generates about half Baghlan’s deputy police chief, said. On Friday, two car bombs in Karachi marks a new era of Khan’s party came in third, Khan’s party won a re-vote in part of the government’s revenue and Khalil Musadeq, the chief of the exploded in a sprawling hous- peace, tolerance,” Alvi said. according to partial official of one constituency of Karachi on is home to Pakistan’s main port, Pul-e-Khumri hospital, confirmed ing development in the southern “The people have shown their results, behind the Pakistan Sunday, giving it one seat and also stock exchange and central bank. that at least 11 people, including province of Kandahar, killing at strong will for a change in the People’s Party (PPP) which led the angering the MQM. Stability in the city is key to the Mohseni, were killed in the blast. least nine people and wounding political landscape of this city, outgoing coalition government. About 3,000 MQM joined the stability of the nuclear-armed President Hamid Karzai con- more than 60. which is the backbone of the Meanwhile, furious mem- protest to denounce Khan, whose country. demned the attack and blamed AFP country in all terms.” bers of the MQM have denied Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI) AGENCIES

Sharif supports peace talks with Taliban Ministers have no answer ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Establishment of peace in Pakistan nearly seven-year insurgency. tribal belt, which have often bro- to Pakistan power outages incoming prime minister Nawaz is one of our top (priorities) and Pakistan’s umbrella Tehreek- ken down quickly. Sharif yesterday threw his sup- we are discussing ways and means e-Taliban movement in February The Taliban, who denounce ISLAMABAD: Two Pakistani overcome the crisis”, the Daily port behind peace talks with the to establish peace,” he said. signalled its willingness to enter democracy as un-Islamic, killed ministers in charge of water Times quoted them as telling a country’s Taliban insurgents, Sharif, whose Pakistan Muslim peace talks with the govern- more than 150 people during the and power explained what can news conference in Lahore, where saying it would be a top priority League (N) won a resounding vic- ment but also stepped up attacks election campaign, including 24 be done to end power cuts of up the temperature was 40degC (104 for his new government. tory in the May 11 election, is set against Sharif’s rival Pakistan on polling day itself. to 20 hours a day in parts of the degrees Fahrenheit) yesterday. “If Taliban have offered us an to serve an unprecedented third People’s Party and its main allies, Taliban spokesman Ehsanullah country enduring temperatures “They have termed finan- option to have dialogue then we term as premier nearly 14 years drastically curtailing their ability Ehsan had said the insurgents of 40 degrees Celsius and above cial constraints as a major, and should take it seriously,” Sharif after he was deposed in a coup. to campaign during the election. would “wait until political parties — absolutely nothing, it seems, incompetence as a minor, hurdle said while addressing his party’s He expressed support on Previous Pakistani govern- form their government” but said except raise prices. in resolving the issue,” the news- newly elected parliamentarians in the campaign trail for peace ments, as well as the military, before the polls that anyone who The power shortages have paper said. the eastern city of Lahore. negotiations with Taliban have forged ad hoc peace deals “comes into conflict with Islam” sparked violent protests and “Presenting the realistic pic- “Terrorism is one of the main militants blamed for kill- with insurgent factions in vari- would be targeted. crippled key industries, costing ture, the ministers announced problems (facing) Pakistan. ing thousands of people in a ous parts of the north-western AFP hundreds of thousands of jobs in that they were going to increase a country already beset by high the price of electricity and gas for unemployment, a failing economy, all sectors.” They gave no details widespread poverty and a Taliban but said the problem would get insurgency. worse before it gets better. Policeman killed The “load-shedding” means About two-thirds of Pakistan’s Musharraf gets bail in Bhutto case many families cannot pump energy is generated by oil and water, let alone run air-condition- gas and there are widespread gas RAWALPINDI: A Pakistani faces legal cases over the sacking leave Pakistan without facing the in Pakistan polio ers, with a disastrous knock-on shortages, with cars run by CNG, court yesterday granted bail to of judges when he imposed emer- courts. effect on health and domestic life. compressed natural gas, queuing former military ruler Pervez gency rule in 2007, and the 2006 But his lawyer Ahmed Raza team attack Ministers Musadiq Malik up for hours overnight to fill their Musharraf over the murder of death of a Baluch rebel leader. Kasuri said he would not flee. “He and Sohail Wajahat Siddiqui tanks. Benazir Bhutto, an official said, Judge Habibur Rehman has will get free from all cases one by KHAR: Gunmen attacked a “expressed their inability to REUTERS but the retired general remains ordered Musharraf, who ruled one. He has got bail in Benzair polio vaccination team in part of under house arrest. Pakistan from 1999 to 2008 after Bhutto murder case today and Pakistan’s restive tribal regions Musharraf has been detained seizing power in a coup, to pay will get bail from other cases very yesterday, killing a policeman Afghan education in his farmhouse on the edge two bonds worth one million soon,” he said. “He will stay in the who was providing security, of Islamabad since April 19 on rupees ($10,000) each, he added. country and won’t go abroad. He officials said. charges of conspiracy to murder Musharraf’s government will stay very much here. Rumours The attackers opened fire as two-time prime minister Bhutto, blamed Bhutto’s killing on that he will go abroad before the team was going to admin- who was killed in a gun and bomb Pakistani Taliban chief Baitullah Nawaz Sharif takes charge of the ister polio drops in Kalam attack in 2007 in Rawalpindi. Mehsud, who denied any involve- prime minister office are false.” town in Bajaur district, one of “General Musharraf’s bail has ment and was killed in a US drone Prosecutor Chaudhry Azhar the seven tribal areas along been confirmed” by an anti-ter- attack in 2009. said he opposed bail for Musharraf, the Afghanistan border, local rorism court in the garrison town Since Nawaz Sharif, ousted by saying he could leave the country. administration official Suhail of Rawalpindi, next to Islamabad, Musharraf’s coup in 1999, won The main prosecutor in the Ahmed Khan said. court official Mohammad Aslam the May 11 general election there case, Chaudhry Zulfiqar, was shot “One tribal police official, who Joya said. The bail does not mean has been speculation a deal would dead on his way to court on May 3. had been escorting the team, died his automatic release as he also be reached to allow Musharraf to AFP in the attack,” he said. There was no immediate report of any other casualties, he said, adding that the attackers man- aged to escape. A security official Pakistan lauds first woman on Everest also confirmed the death. Pakistan, Afghanistan and ISLAMABAD: Pakistan yes- “She is a brave girl who sum- now named “Samina Peak” in Nigeria are the only countries terday congratulated Samina mited the peak and sent us a her honour. where polio is endemic. Polio Baig on becoming the first message of her achievement Pakistan is home to five of cases in Pakistan hit 198 in 2011, woman from the country to and the whole Pakistan is feel- the world’s 14 peaks over 8,000 the highest figure for more than reach the summit of Mount ing proud of her,” Haidri said. metres, including the world’s a decade and the most of any Everest. “She used her own resources second-highest mountain, K2, country in the world, according The 22-year-old Baig, from and despite rough weather and but Haidri said mountaineer- to the UN. the small town of Shimshal in fears of avalanche she never lost ing needed more government Kalam is barely two kilome- the Hunza valley in Pakistan’s courage.” support. “I sincerely hope that tres from the Afghan border. mountainous north, scaled Haidri said Baig’s brother Samina’s achievement will Pakistan’s tribal areas are a haven the 8,848-metre peak early on Mirza Ali was with her but was induce more and more woman for Taliban and Al Qaeda linked Sunday after a gruelling expedi- unable to reach the summit as to join this sport and help us militants. tion in rough weather. he was unwell. convince the government to Health officials said the cam- Karrar Haidri, member exec- In 2010 Baig became the first give more funds to us so that our paign involved some 624 teams utive council of Pakistan Alpine person to scale the 6,000-metre people can attain more height working to inoculate 223,570 Students take part in a lesson at a school in Kabul, Afghanistan, yesterday. Club (PAC), said Baig had raised Chashkin Sar peak in northern in this department,” said Haidir. children under five years of age Reports state that about 8.3 million Afghan students are enrolled, but more Pakistan’s name in the world. Pakistan and the mountain is AFP against the disease in Bajaur. than 4.5 million children of school age remained deprived of education. AFP TUESDAY 21 MAY 2013 14 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com INDIA

Honorary degree for Karzai Three acquitted Ailing Mumbai of gangrape

NEW DELHI: A Delhi court acquitted three men facing blasts convicts charges of abducting and gang- raping a woman after the vic- tim denied that the accused raped her. Additional Sessions Judge T R surrender Naval acquitted Nazeemuddin, Deepak Aggarwal and Idris Malik of the rape charges, saying that the victim failed to support the Old man, woman appear in court prosecution case. It added that she had specifi- MUMBAI: Two elderly and blasts in Mumbai. cally denied that these accused ailing convicts in the 1993 Kazi was found guilty took turns to rape her after Mumbai serial blasts case and convicted for allowing abducting her. The judge said: were respectively brought on another co-accused to store “I come to the conclusion that a stretcher and a wheelchair some weapons at her home, prosecution has failed to prove to surrender before a TADA which were part of a bigger its case against accused people Special Court here yesterday consignment. beyond any reasonable suspicion to serve their sentence. She came to the court on a and shadow of doubt. The reasons While Zaibunissa Kazi, 75, wheelchair accompanied by her which support my conclusion are suffering from multiple ail- daughter and gave herself up to firstly that prosecutrix has failed ments including cancer, was the court. to support the prosecution case.” brought on a wheelchair, Soon after her arrival, Kazi According to the prosecu- Sharif ‘Dada’ Parkar, 80, was was mobbed by mediapersons tion, the woman was found brought in an ambulance on a and she broke down, pleading lying unconscious on a road in stretcher before Terrorist and “mercy and forgiveness” from Kailash Nagar area of east Delhi Disruptive Activities (TADA) the government. in December 2011 and taken to Special Judge G A Sanap in the “At my age and my present President Pranab Mukherjee (centre) hands over to Afghan President Hamid Karzai an honorary degree of Lovely hospital by police. afternoon. health condition, it is not pos- Professional University in the presence of university chancellor Ashok Mittal in Jalandhar, yesterday. Karzai arrived IANS They came three days after sible for me to undergo this in India yesterday on a two-day visit during which he is set to seek greater military aid from New Delhi. the special court issued non- punishment... I have suffered bailable arrest warrants against enough... I urge the govern- them for not adhering to the ment to pardon me and save Supreme Court deadline to sur- me from this predicament,” render and serve their remain- Kazi said. ing sentence awarded in the Kazi said she was suffering Russia seeks to burnish image in Goa blasts case. from hypertension, cholesterol Both Kazi and Parkar, who and thyroid problems and had PANAJI: Russian authorities mafia also operates in Pakistan. dances and singing. Russia has a tourists were not really keen on were slated to surrender on undergone a major kidney oper- are keen on an image make-over You don’t have to be from a place deep culture, which Goans should heritage tourism and were more May 17, could not come on the ation some time ago. for Russians in Goa, an official to run a mafia.” know about,” Albuquerque said. content on having a blast during designated day owing to ill- “I simply cannot sit on the said here yesterday after they Albuquerque, a reputed busi- The official said that the consu- their vacations by resting and health and had sought an exten- floor, how will I manage in the have been in news for all the nessman in Goa, was speaking to late in Goa would also help boost drinking. sion from the court which was jail? At home my daughter looks wrong reasons, ranging from reporters in his first media confer- the number of Russian tourists “They are spenders. They like to not granted. after me, I don’t know what will mafia links, drugs and conflicts ence after being appointed to act to the state, to an even higher eat and drink,” Albuquerque said. Parkar was hospitalised happen in the jail,” she cried. with locals. as a first point of assistance to the number, because of the confidence Goa has emerged as a major last week for chest pain, while Though she has claimed inno- The number of Russian tourist thousands of Russian tourists who a consular office is likely to gener- Russian tourism destination for Kazi had to undergo certain cence, Kazi was convicted under arrivals in Goa could soon touch have been flocking to Goa. ate in Goa. the last five years emerging as a medical tests. the Arms Act and the TADA 200,000 annually, the newly- “We are somewhere at the top “Earlier, for every issue they had top region as far as tourist arrival Shortly after their surrender, Act and sentenced to five years’ appointed Russian honorary con- of the charter tourism curve... We to get in touch with the Russian figures are concerned. Special Judge Sanap directed jail. sul in Goa, Victor Albuquerque, would reach the top,” Albuquerque consulate in Mumbai. Now they do The increase in Russian tour- police to take them into custody In March, Kazi, through her told reporters. said. not have to. Also most Russians do ists has, however, also resulted and send them to jail to serve daughter (who has declined to Asked if he could categorically Albuquerque said that an effort not speak English, which was a big in the Russian mafia involving their remaining sentence. be identified), had appealed to confirm or deny whether Russian would be made by his office, to hindrance for them if they were in itself in the real estate as well as Parkar’s involvement per- Press Council of India chairman mafia was present in Goa, known reach out to the Goan community trouble. The consulate will have a tourism industry, a fact which is tained to conspiracy and over- Markandey Katju to take up her to attract 125,000 Russian tourists by introducing Russian cultural Russian speaking person available being probed by the Intelligence seeing the landing of arms and case with the Maharashtra gov- annually, Albuquerque did neither. events in the state. to learn their problems first hand,” Bureau (IB) and the Enforcement RDX in Raigad in Maharashtra ernor for a pardon. He instead said: “There is mafia “We will be having some cul- Albuquerque said. Directorate (ED). before the March 12, 1993 serial IANS in tourism everywhere. The Indian tural events in Goa, including folk He said that most Russian IANS TUESDAY 21 MAY 2013 INDIA www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 15 Li offers ‘handshake Facebook page urges cow slaughter LUCKNOW: An FIR was yes- slaughter cow) openly exhorted doing acts prejudicial to mainte- terday registered here against and glorified cow slaughter. nance of harmony, and intentional social networking site Facebook The first information report insult with intent to provoke on a complaint that claimed a (FIR) was registered under breach of peace,” the complain- across the Himalayas’ group on the site exhorts people Indian Penal Code’s sections deal- ant told IANS. to slaughter cows, police said. ing with provocation with intent Thakur said that in the past he The site was booked under to cause riot, public nuisance and had registered four more FIRs of Both sides seek to resolve row on ill-defined border penal provisions and under the intentional insult with intent to similar nature but since no action Information Technology (IT) provoke breach of the peace and was taken in these cases, such NEW DELHI: India and China Act, 2000, on the complaint filed Section 66A of the IT Act. incidents were being repeated. will study new ways to ease ten- by senior police officer Amitabh “It also uses filthy language The complaint said Facebook sions on their ill-defined border Thakur. against Hinduism and Islam Inc was criminally liable because after an army standoff in the In his complaint filed at and also against the Prophet it had not taken due precaution Himalayas, Chinese Premier Li Gomtinagar police station, Mohammad (PBUH) and Hindu as warranted under Section 79 Keqiang said yesterday on his Thakur alleged that a Facebook deities. These words are of such of the IT Act, despite repeated first official foreign trip. group ‘Aao mil kar kaaten Gaay’ a nature that they wantonly pro- directions. The number two in the Chinese (Let us come together and voke with intent to cause riot and IANS leadership offered New Delhi a “handshake across the Himalayas” and said the world’s most popu- lous nations could become a new engine for the global economy if Girl abducted, they could avoid friction on the Malafide intention must militarised border. raped by three “Both sides believe that we need to improve the various border-related mechanisms that in New Delhi in rape conviction: SC we have put into place and make them more efficient. We need to NEW DELHI: A 17-year- NEW DELHI: A man accused actually wanted to marry the vic- appropriately manage and resolve old girl was kidnapped of rape can be convicted only if tim, or had malafide motives, and our differences,” Li said at a joint Chinese Premier Li Keqiang shakes hands with Prime Minister Manmohan and gang-raped here by he has a malafide intention of had made a false promise to this news conference with India’s Singh during a ceremonial reception at the forecourt of the Rashtrapati three people, including two not fulfilling a promise of mar- effect only to satisfy his lust, as Prime Minister Manmohan Bhavan in New Delhi yesterday. neighbours, after being giv- rying the victim, the Supreme the latter falls within the ambit Singh. ing sedatives, police said Court yesterday said, describ- of cheating or deception,” the The two men appeared smil- last year but both sides believe the India and China. And likewise, the yesterday. ing the crime as an assault on court said. ing and relaxed. India’s Foreign potential is much greater. India development and prosperity of the The incident took place on the “body and privacy of the “Thus, the court must exam- Ministry said they got on well. runs a $29bn deficit with China, world cannot be a reality without May 17 in east Delhi’s New victims”. ine whether there was made, at There were small breakthroughs a sore point that they sought to the cooperation and simultaneous Usmanpur area, police said. “An accused can be convicted an early stage, a false promise on trade, but no major agree- address in a joint statement, with development of China and India,” “Two of the three accused for rape only if the court reaches of marriage by the accused and ments were signed. specific reference to pharmaceuti- he said. are minors. The third accused a conclusion that the intention whether the consent involved was China and India disagree on cals, IT services and agriculture. Li said he chose New Delhi as has been identified as Ajay of the accused was malafide, and given after wholly understanding large areas of their 4,000km bor- However, similar promises his first destination on his four- who has been arrested. Ajay’s that he had clandestine motives,” the nature and consequences of der and fought a brief war 50 made in previous joint statements nation tour to show how impor- younger brother has been said an apex court bench of sexual indulgence,” the apex court years ago. failed to slow the ballooning trade tant India is for China and also sent to a juvenile home while Justice B S Chauhan and Justice judges said. Among the measures being gap. because he had fond memories the third accused is abscond- Dipak Misra. The high court had upheld looked at to reduce the risk of India’s Essar Group conglom- of visiting as a Communist youth ing,” said a police officer. The court said this while set- the Novemebr 13, 1998, order of confrontation is allowing higher erate is nonetheless set to sign leader 27 years ago. The incident came to light ting aside a January 28, 2010, additional sessions judge, Karnal, level meetings between regional a $1bn loan deal with China Srikanth Kondapalli, an aca- after the girl, who was found order of the Punjab and Haryana convicting Deepak Gulati for kid- military commanders, an Indian Development Bank and China’s demic and expert on China said in an unconscious condition High Court related to a rape con- napping and raping a woman he official said. largest oil and gas producer progress was at best incremental, in a street, gained conscious- vict from Karnal in Haryana who allegedly loved and wanted to While there has not been a PetroChina during the trip, despite the warm words from Li ness two days after the inci- had eloped with his lover to get marry. Gulati was awarded three shooting incident in decades, the sources said. They said the loan and a media campaign around his dent and narrated the chain married against the wishes of years’ jail for kidnapping and long-running dispute gets in the would be backed by the supply of trip apparently aimed at cooling of events to her family. their family members. seven years’ term for committing way of improving economic rela- refined products to PetroChina. Indian public anger following A medical test confirmed “There is a distinction between rape and both sentences were to tions between the neighbours, After a welcome ceremony at the three-week standoff on the rape and a case was regis- the mere breach of a promise, and be served concurrently. who account for 40 percent of the the presidential palace, Li said Himalayan plateau that ended on tered, police said. Her father not fulfilling a false promise,” the Going into the sequence of the world’s population and whose fast he wanted to build trust and May 3. lodged a complaint against court said. “There is a clear dis- events leading to the alleged rape growing markets stand in con- cooperation. “There was a lot of hype cre- Ajay and his brother, who tinction between rape and con- and subsequently the arrest of trast to the stagnant economies “World peace and regional sta- ated before this visit, but the new lived near the girl’s house, sensual sex and in a case like this, Gulati, the apex court said that at of the West. bility cannot be a reality without leadership didn’t show many new police said. IANS the court must very carefully every stage the prosecutrix acted Bilateral trade reached $66bn strategic mutual trust between ideas,” Kondapalli said. REUTERS examine whether the accused had on her own voluntarily. IANS TUESDAY 21 MAY 2013 16 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MORNING BREAK

PRAYER TIME Swift wins big News in Numbers ECONOMIC GROWTH at Billboard PERFORMANCE 2012 2 Fajr (Dawn) 3:21 Shorook (Sunrise) 4:47 awards Zuhr (Noon) 11:30 LAS VEGAS: Pop diva Taylor Asr (Afternoon) 2:56 Swift took home an armful of trophies, and Justin Bieber Maghrib (Sunset) 6:15 confronted a chorus of boos at Isha (Night) 7:45 the Billboard Music Awards yesterday. Swift, 23, in a figure-hugging blue Zuhair Murad mini-dress, WEATHER collected eight awards includ- ing top artist, top female artist and top Billboard 200 album for Today Wednesday Thursday Weather Conditions: her latest release Red, which has Qatar’s manufacturing expanded by a solid 11.1pc in the first half of 2012. Clear Clear Clear sold more than 5.4 million copies Slightly dusty worldwide. In volume terms, about 56pc of manufacturing activity is accounted for with some “You are the longest and best by the production of refined products—including gas-to-liquid products, relationship I ever had,” Swift High: 41° clouds. High: 41° High: 39° told her fans, turning her tabloid Low: 28° Low: 33° Low: 29° or GTLs—and of petrochemicals. Both are tied to upstream oil and gas reputation as a serial dater to her advantage. activity through processing of feedstock inputs, namely crude oil, lean gas Teen idol Bieber, sporting out- and condensates. Much of the manufacturing expansion in the first half sized aviator sunglasses, played DOHA - SUN & SEA stoic when boos echoed through reflected the availability of additional feedstock and continued addition to the MGM Grand auditorium as SUN TIDE SEA he stepped up to collect the fan- capacity at Pearl GTL. The manufacturing subcomponent of basic chemicals, SUNRISE | SUNSET HIGH | LOW WIND voted Billboard Milestone Award. which includes GTLs, climbed by almost 100pc in the first half of 2012. “I’m 19 years old, I think I’m 04:47 18:15 00:30 & 14:45 08:00 & 20:00 05-15 / 20 KT doing a pretty good job,” he said. “I Within petrochemicals, fertiliser production posted strong growth of about just want to say it should be about THE REGION TODAY TOMORROW the music.... This is not a gim- 23pc following recent expansion of capacity to produce urea and ammonia. HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER mick. I’m an artist and I should be taken seriously.” MUSCAT 42/31 Clear 43/32 Clear In recent weeks, Bieber has Manufacturing growth (pc) MAKKAH 42/30 Partly cloudy 43/31 Partly cloudy caught flak for saying teen KUWAIT 40/28 Clear 38/29 Clear Holocaust victim Anne Frank BAHRAIN 39/31 Clear 38/28 Clear would have been a “belieber,” a SANAA 29/15 Partly cloudy 30/16 Partly cloudy term used for his fans. He was RIYADH 40/28 Partly cloudy 40/27 Partly cloudy late for concerts in London and DUBAI 37/27 Partly cloudy 40/29 Partly cloudy Dubai, and in Germany his pet BAGHDAD 34/22 Clear 35/23 Partly cloudy monkey was confiscated for lack of paperwork. THE WORLD TODAY TOMORROW Bieber also won Billboard’s hon- ours for top male artist and top HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER social artist — the latter an acknowl- edgement of his overtaking Lady ATHENS 33/21 Partly cloudy 32/20 Cloudy Gaga in January this year as the WASHINGTON 30/22 Partly cloudy 29/22 Chance of storm most-followed person on Twitter. SYDNEY 20/10 Chance of rain 18/16 Chance of rain Other big winners on Sunday LONDON 16/10 Chance of rain 16/08 Chance of rain included the Belgian-Australian PARIS 19/12 Rain 17/11 Mostly cloudy musician Gotye, who won four ISTANBUL 26/16 Clear 29/16 Partly cloudy awards to go with his best-song MANILA 33/27 Mostly cloudy 34/27 Chance of storm Grammy for “Somebody That I DHAKA 31/26 Partly cloudy 31/27 Chance of storm Used to Know,” and Rihanna, who DELHI 44/32 Clear 44/33 Clear dominated the R&B categories H1 2011 H2 2011 H1 2012 ISLAMABAD 43/25 Clear 43/27 Clear with four laurels. Source : http://www.qsa.gov.qa/ AFP Shakespeare’s Cheers for Palestinian film of love and betrayal sonnets come CANNES: The tensions of a story of lovers caught in a vice, of his love for Nadia, he is under engineering before dipping his toes we used a fake wall on a set in Palestinian life under Israeli with Israel’s secret police on one pressure to betray his comrades. in film-making, emerging with his Nazareth.” Omar cost $2m — less occupation exploded onto the side and Palestinian gunmen Just as he is fingered as a trai- first feature, Curfew, in 1994. than one-fiftieth of a Hollywood to life in app screen at Cannes yesterday, on the other. Both are equally tor, he begins to doubt whether Of the five principals, three of blockbuster — and all of it came where a tale of love and betrayal ruthless. Nadia has been true to him as she them are making their feature- from individual Palestinians and TORONTO: A new app won a five-minute standing At its centre is a young baker, avows, or whether she has yielded film debut: Adam Bakri as Omar, Palestinian businesses, said Abu- launched yesterday aims to ovation. Omar, who falls in love with to the wooing of Amjad. a graduate from New York’s Assad proudly. bring William Shakespeare’s Omar is the new work by Hany Nadia, the sister of an old friend, The dramatic denouement Lee Strasberg Institute; Samer “For the first time, we have sonnets to the masses with the Abu-Assad, who shot to promi- Tarek, who runs a resistance cell led to huge applause at a press Bisharat as Amjad, a 16-year- convinced businessmen from help of shor t films starring stage nence in 2006 with Paradise Now, in the occupied territories. screening in Cannes, where Omar old high school student;, and Palestine to invest in their (film) actors performing them in front which won a Golden Globe and, To visit Nadia, Omar must is in the “Certain Regard” sec- Nazareth-born Leem Lubany, industry. It’s incredible,” he said. of New York landmarks. in the race for best foreign-lan- clamber over the occupation tion — a closely-watched category another 16-year-old school pupil, Asked which audience he tar- The Sonnet Project is a free guage film, became the first-ever wall built by Israel that divides for provocative films or follow-up who is superb as Nadia. geted, he said: “My first audience, app for the iPhone and iPad Palestinian film to be tipped for the territories — an act that is works by emerging directors. Filming took place in Nablus, honestly, are the Palestinians and that showcases the bard’s poetry an Oscar. fraught with risk. Abu-Assad said he was “very Nazareth and Bisan, but there Arabs. I hope from the bottom of through films of up to two min- Abu-Assad dips into the con- Arrested one day after scal- nervous at first but then I was were no problems at all with the my heart that they will be engaged utes and performances by Tony- ceptual source of Palestinians who ing the wall, Omar is humiliated amazed” at the audience’s recep- Israelis. “There was no opposition with it, that they will love it. Award winning actors Joanna take up arms, just as Paradise Now and beaten up by police, prompt- tion. “They were involved in it, to us shooting anywhere,” said “Even if they are not on the Gleason and Cady Huffman, recounted the tale of two men ing him in anger to join Tarek and it was good to see that, espe- Abu-Assad. West Bank or Palestinians, it among others. preparing for a suicide attack in and another friend, Amjad, in an cially as this public, in Cannes, is “We managed to get permission reflects life where they are divided “Shakespeare gets a bad rap. Tel Aviv. operation to kill an Israeli soldier. the most critical public you can for all of the places, even the wall. between two sections and they A lot of people say ‘I don’t like The new story, though, is From then on, Omar’s life goes get,” he said. For the wall, we had permission to have to deal between trust and Shakespeare, he’s over my head,’ darker and more complex — a into a spiral. Picked up and inter- The Nazareth-born 41-year-old climb up to a certain height and love and friendship. or ‘Shakespeare is boring,’” said political drama interwoven with rogated by the Israelis, who learn Dutch-Palestinian studied airplane then, for the moments at the top, AFP Ross Williams, the artistic direc- tor of the New York Shakespeare Exchange, the non-profit organi- sation behind The Sonnet Project. Japanese thriller gets “I wondered what happens if we share Shakespeare in really easily digestible chunks so people can get used to having him in their biggest boos in Cannes lives?” he added. Shakespeare’s 154 sonnets, CANNES: A blood-soaked let down by the system, by a desire first published in 1609 explore vengeance tale from Japan drew for a delayed sense of justice. themes such as the love, beauty, the biggest boos in the race for The picture, one of 20 vying for and death. the Cannes Film Festival’s top the Palme d’Or award, got off to a Different locations across prize yesterday, with critics promising start with impromptu New York were selected for each savaging a “risible” parade of applause for a spectacular ambush sonnet, including the World cliches. scene executed with military Trade Center Memorial and Controversial Japanese direc- precision. the Brooklyn Bridge. Actors and tor Takashi Miike unveiled Shield But reviewers said the film directors and text coaches helped of Straw (Wara No Tate) about went off the rails during a bul- to interpret the themes. a nationwide bounty hunt for a let-train scene in which the cops To mark the launch of the app, child rapist who murders the deliver long speeches about their 10 short films will be released on seven-year-old granddaughter of personal motivations and reflec- Monday, and a new one every few a billionaire politician. tions on the moral quandary days after that. About 75 more The man offers a one-billion- they face over risking their lives films have been completed or are yen ($9.7m) reward for the crimi- to guard a remorseless killer, in the works. Users can receive nal’s capture and killing. only pausing to brutally dispatch notifications with the iPhone app The offer touches off a frenzy blood-thirsty bounty-hunters. when a new one is released. in the country, sending hordes of British critic Geoff Andrew took Another iPad app released would-be vigilantes on the chase to Twitter to deride “risibly over- last year called The Sonnets by for the murderer. acted, overemphatic nonsense that William Shakespeare includes Fearing for his life, the paedo- constantly states the obvious cliche”. performances by actress Kim phile turns himself in and a team Movie magazine CineVue posted FROM LEFT: Japanese director Takashi Miike and actors Takao Osawa and Nanako Matsushima arrive at a press Cattrall, Patrick Stewart of and of cops — a widower whose wife a review within minutes giving conference for their film Wara No Tate (Shield of Straw) at the Cannes Film Festival yesterday. British actor Stephen Fry. was killed by a drunk driver and the picture one star out of five Created by Britain’s Touch a single mother — see it as their and calling it a “stone-cold dud” predicted a big-budget Hollywood iconic Clint Eastwood franchise. a proud tradition of blockbuster Press, it also features commentary duty to protect him at all costs while cult film watcher Electric remake. Miike, a remarkably prolific action movies. “It’s not the view- and information about the sonnets. despite his vile crimes. Sheep said it went “down like a “Few action movies have been director whose work has been ers who don’t want to see these The app, which costs $6.99, also But they must fend off all manner lead balloon”. so dedicated to the cause of lib- banned in some countries for films, it’s the professionals, the includes a replica of the original of armed assailants — some driven The Irish Times reviewer, how- eral democracy and trial by jury. excessive gore, lamented that the people who make films,” he told sonnets, and interviews with schol- by greed for the reward and others, ever, had a few kind words for Shield of Straw is the anti-Dirty Japanese cinema industry was reporters. ars and Shakespeare experts. crime victims themselves who feel the “classy action sequences” and Harry,” it wrote, referring to the turning its back on what he called AFP REUTERS Tuesday 21 May 2013 11 Rajab 1434 Volume 18 Number 5706 Price: QR2

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 Apicorp posts Deal signed for $1bn Nebras Power $109m net profits for 2012 New company eyes overseas investment opportunities in utility services sector DOHA: The Arab Petroleum Investments Corporation BY MOHAMMAD SHOEB (Apicorp), the multilateral development bank owned by the DOHA: Qatar Electricity and 10 members of the Organisation Water Company (QEWC), Qatar of Arab Petroleum Exporting Petroleum International (QPI), Countries (OAPEC), yesterday and Qatar Holding (QH) yester- announced net profits of $109m, day signed a shareholder’s agree- for 2012, up three percent com- ment to establish a $1bn new pared to 2011. The given net shareholding company named profit is the highest-ever in the ‘Nebras Power’ aiming to tap the organisation’s 37 year history, thriving investment opportunities said a press statement. in utility services overseas. The financials highlight The agreement was signed Apicorp’s successful track record under the patronage and pres- in generating sustainable returns ence of H E Dr Mohammed bin while effectively supporting the Saleh Al Sada, Minister of Energy Arab energy industry. The gov- and Industry and Chairman and ernment of Qatar owns a 10 per- Managing Director of Qatar cent stake in Apicorp. Petroleum (QP). Apuicorp’s total assets rose “The new company has been to over $5bn, an increase of 9.6 designed on the guidance of the percent from 2011 while net asset Emir, H H Sheikh Hamad bin value per share jumped over 7 Khalifa Al Thani, to strengthen percent to $1744. cooperation among Qatari com- Ahmad bin Hamad Al Nuaimi, panies. It will invest outside Qatar Chief Executive and General in power generation, water desali- Manager of Apicorp said: “We nation and other services related are delighted to have achieved to the industry,” Dr Al Sada told record financial results for a third reporters during the singing year in a row. Apicorp has a suc- ceremony. cessful history in facilitating the It was inked by Fahad Hamad availability of capital for the Arab Al Mohannadi, General Manager energy sector, and despite the of QEWC, Nasser bin Khalil Al continued economic headwinds Jaidah, CEO of QPI, and Ahmad bin in 2012, it has continued to play Mohammed Al Sayed, Managing a strong counter-cyclical role in Director and CEO of QH. The Minister of Energy and Industry H E Dr Mohammed bin Saleh Al Sada witnessing the signing of agreement to form Nebras Power. supporting its clients across the In Nebras Power, QEWC will Arab world.” own 60 percent stake, and both eventually we will also be evalu- issue initial public offering (IPO), onwards, we will make it sure new partnership with QEWC QPI and QH will have 20 percent ating investment opportunities in Al Sada said: “It is just a start, that only Nebras will invest in and QH. We acknowledge the each. A board of directors will be North African countries.” but we don’t know about future.” new opportunities outside Qatar.” importance of strengthening Saudi Aramco responsible for the management Replying questions if the new He added: “Currently we are Al Sayed added: “This strate- the scale, scope, and diversity of of the company and it will be company will consider invest- studying number of projects out- gic partnership will strengthen Qatar’s international investments, seeks bids for nominated by the shareholders. ing in Afghanistan’s “promising side Qatar, and with in 3-5 years, QEWC’s presence globally with which are aligned with the Qatar Asked if there are specific coun- power sector”, where, according Nebras Power will have a remark- the backing of QH and QPI. Power National Vision 2030.” power plant tries where the Company is looking President Hamid Karzai, any able status.” generation is an important invest- QEWC, QPI and QH each have forward to invest, Al Mohannadi investment “will ensure high Speaking about QEWC’s ment sector that is critical to sup- large investments outside Qatar AL KHOBAR: Saudi Aramco said: “We are focusing on coun- level of returns”, Al Sada said: existing holdings outside Qatar, port economic development and and the new company (Nebras has invited bids for the con- tries where the power sector has “Our agenda is open, wherever whether it will continue to seek can provide attractive financial Power) will benefit from the col- struction of a 2,400MW power witnessed remarkable growth (in we will have viable opportunity opportunities independently, Al returns on investment. We wish lective expertise of all the share- plant in Jizan, near a 400,000 some countries 68 percent), most with a win-win situation we will Mohannadi said: “QEWC’s foreign Nebras Power all the success.” holders in its future international barrel-per-day oil refinery of these countries are in the Middle not hesitate to invest.” holdings will continue to remain On behalf of QPI, Nasser Al investments. which it is currently build- East and Far East regions. And About the Company’s plan to as they are, but from today Jaidah said: “QPI welcomes this THE PENINSULA ing, two industry sources said yesterday. The plant will use integrated gasification combined cycle European aviation exhibition (IGCC) technology to convert Irish biotech vacuum residue fuel from the Gulf funds raise private refinery into a synthetic gas, the state-run oil company said in a group Elan ups description of the project distrib- uted at a signing ceremony for the defence against equity investment refinery, which is due to come on line in 2016. Bids are invited by DUBAI: Sovereign wealth depending on whether they are mid-August and the gas produced US takeover bid funds in the Gulf Arab region engaged in investment activities is expected to help power Saudi are raising their allocations to that contribute to the progress Arabia’s west coast cities. LONDON: Irish biotechnol- private equity investments at a of the local economy or aiming to “IGCC is one way of increasing ogy company Elan announced faster rate than other types of invest for future generations. the efficiency of the consumption a series of deals yesterday to investment, US fund manager The Gulf region is home to of hydrocarbons, especially fuel oil, boost growth, in the face of a Invesco says in a new study. some of the world’s most promi- liquid fuels,” Ahmad al-Khowaiter, $6bn hostile takeover approach “Contrary to popular percep- nent sovereign funds such as a chief engineer at Aramco, told by US group Royalty Pharma. tions these vast state funds are the Abu Dhabi Investment a power conference in Dammam “Elan Corporation plc today not piling into global property and Authority (ADIA), and the Qatar yesterday. “So that is what we are announces a series of transactions global infrastructure projects,” Investment Authority, which are trying to do, move to newer tech- designed to decisively transform Nick Tolchard, head of Invesco also two of the most active funds, nology that allows us to get the and advance the company,” it said Middle East said. holding stakes in a range of large most value from those liquids.” in a statement. “As well as a rise in co-invest- European corporates. The Dublin-based group said it ment deals, over and above pri- Funds like Abu Dhabi’s state- was buying two small drugmakers, vate equity funds we are seeing owned vehicle Mubdala has as Unemployment selling one of its drugs in develop- an emergence of direct private its main mandate to invest to ment, buying back $200m in shares equity investments coming out of generate employment opportu- rate in Slovakia and finally issuing $800m of debt. SWFs.” nities for the state and contrib- Subject to shareholder approv- Large sovereign funds have ute to local economic output, eases in April als, Elan has agreed to buy been looking for alternative while sovereign funds such as Austrian firm AOP Orphan, investments to give better returns ADIA and Kuwait Investment BRATISLAVA: Slovakia’s which focuses on specialist treat- than low-yielding staples such as Authority (KIA) invest for future unemployment rate fell slightly ments for diseases that affect only US Treasuries. generations. for a third month running to small sections of the population. Average allocations to private Mubadala already owns a stake 14.41 percent in April as warmer It will acquire also a 48-per- equity by the region’s developmen- in US private equity firm Carlyle, weather helped employment in cent stake in Dubai-based special- tal wealth funds have increased in while KIA in Kuwait is a stake- construction and agriculture, ity pharmaceuticals startup firm the last 12 months by 33 percent, holder in CVC Capital. official data showed yesterday. Newbridge, with an option to buy whereas investment funds have At the peak of the global finan- In March, the rate in the euro- the rest by 2015. Elan will also sell raised their private equity alloca- cial crisis some of the large Gulf zone country reached 14.68 per- a drug in development which is tions by 13 percent in the same funds also stepped in to invest cent from 13.40 percent 12 months designed to manage aggression in period, the study showed. in high-profile financial names ago. Against a background of 26 patients with Alzheimer’s disease, In comparison Invesco said the such as Citigroup Inc, Credit million people out of work across to Speranza Therapeutics. percentage rise in other alter- Suisse and Barclays. They are also the 27-member EU, Slovak Monday’s announcements come Workers apply the finishing touches to displays during the 13th Annual native investments such as real heavy investors in high-end real Labour Minister Jan Richter after the firm last month rejected European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition press day, estate and infrastructure was estate in Europe and own trophy told reporters Monday the string a takeover approach from US at the Geneva Palexpo Conference Centre, adjacent to the Geneva only in single-digits. assets such as London’s landmark of monthly downticks was “rea- peer Royalty Pharma. Airport, in Geneva, Switzerland, yesterday. Invesco classifies the funds as Harrods store. son for cautious optimism.” AFP “developmental” or “investment” REUTERS THE PENINSULA/AGENCIES TUESDAY 21 MAY 2013 18 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS Weak dollar Lulu Hypermarket celebrates 11th anniversary pushes oil prices up Gold falls for eighth session

NEW YORK, LONDON: inflation. Bullion is down 20 per- Crude oil prices rose yesterday, cent so far this year. reversing early losses to trade Short-term “the market looks higher by late morning in New fairly balanced, with Brent trad- York as the dollar weakened, ing in a range between $90 and $110 but ample supplies of crude oil per barrel. It is difficult to see it were expected to limit gains. breaking out of that for a while,” “The dollar’s move has been said Olivier Jakob, analysts at Swiss pretty strong lately, maybe you’re energy consultancy Petromatrix. seeing a little more profit tak- World stock markets were ing,” said Gene McGillian, an close to five-year highs yester- analyst with Tradition Energy in day, boosted by optimism about Stamford, Connecticut. the outlook for global growth. But The US dollar fell against a volumes in most financial markets basket of six currencies, making were thin as several countries cel- crude oil and other dollar-denom- ebrated religious festivals. Shaijan M O, Regional Manager, Mohamed Sainulabideen, General Manager and other officials of Lulu Hypermarket Group cutting a cake to mark inated commodities cheaper for Traders awaited the minutes the 11th anniversary of Lulu Hypermarket’s D Ring Road branch yesterday. holders of foreign currencies. of a US Federal Reserve meeting, Brent crude for July was up to be released on Wednesday. Oil 41 cents per barrel at $105.05, at traders would grow more bullish at 11.20am EDT (1504 GMT). US any hints of continued monetary crude futures were up 82 cents easing by the US central bank. per barrel at $96.84. Analysts at US brokerage Gulf Capital to raise $360m Islamic loan “It looks like the bulls are try- Jefferies Bache said they had ing to start the rally up again. I turned more negative on oil DUBAI: Abu Dhabi private Executive Karim El Solh said. listing them later at a profit. ways to get value out of assets. would think the market meets markets and saw the chance of equity firm Gulf Capital is Gulf Capital, which owns 79 Two industry sources close Gulf Capital’s dividend recap greater resistance because we at least $10 more of falls in crude close to signing a Dh1.32bn percent of Gulf Marine, had to the company said that Gulf deal follows a similar move by have weak underlying fundamen- prices from current levels: ($359.38m) Islamic loan for its hoped to receive about $500m Capital would use the loan to Bahrain’s Investcorp for its Berlin tals,” McGillian said. “We can see a renewed dis- company Gulf Marine Services, from the sale of the group but pay out $100m to shareholders Packaging business, in which the The closer the market pushes to connect from the strong equi- some of which will be paid out to talks collapsed last year partly through a dividend recapitalisa- firm raised a new $610m loan to the 2013 US crude oil high of $98 ties, especially if the dollar index investors as dividends. due to financing issues and dif- tion. El Solh said the dividend fund a payout to shareholders and per barrel, the more resistance it continues to march higher,” they Gulf Marine, the largest opera- ferences over valuation. recapitalisation portion was less existing management. faces, he added. The International wrote in a note to clients. “We look tor and owner of jack-up barges The chief executive reiterated than a $100m but he declined to In the first quarter of 2013, Energy Agency expects weaker for underlying petroleum funda- in the Middle East, said yesterday that Gulf Capital was still explor- specify the value. UK pet-shop chain Pets at Home demand growth for oil in 2013, mentals to deteriorate further.” it was due to sign the syndicated ing a potential stock market list- Dividend recapitalisations, a and Spanish metal packaging along with higher supply. “We have shifted to a bearish Islamic loan with Abu Dhabi ing for Gulf Marine — one of the process that adds to a company’s firm Mivisa both did dividend Gold fell for an eighth session stance with particular emphasis Islamic Bank. biggest assets in its portfolio — existing borrowings so it can pay recapitalisations. to its weakest in more than a on the crude markets,” they added. “The funds we are raising will on a major stock market such as a dividend, are becoming more Gulf Capital, which has around month as fears the US Federal “Ultimate downside price possibili- partly be used to buy a new vessel, London or Singapore in two years’ common among European and $2bn in assets under manage- Reserve may wind back its eco- ties in the crudes still exist about refinance debt and pay investors time. Middle East private equity firms ment, plans to double them 2018, nomic stimulus programme hurt $10-$11 below current levels.” dividends. It’s a good time to refi- Private equity firms buy com- as a lack of M&A activity has El-Solh said earlier in the year. its appeal as a hedge against AFP nance debt,” Gulf Capital’s Chief panies with the aim of selling or prompted them to look for other REUTERS Goldman Sachs Ryanair profits push to invest in Japan green energy shares to all-time high TOKYO: US investment DUBLIN: A sharp rise in earn- Ryanair said the service had banking giant Goldman Sachs ings from add-on charges for proved particularly popular with said yesterday it will start items such as baggage and pre- businesspeople trading down investing in Japanese renew- assigned seating helped boost from Europe’s older national able energy projects, with a Ryanair’s earnings above expec- carriers, many of which are reported $2.9bn outlay over tations in the past year, lifting struggling to deal with high fuel the next five years. its shares to a record high. prices and more cost-conscious The injection comes after Ryanair, which helped pioneer travellers. Japan’s government stepped a business model in which low Ryanair regularly raises the into the green power market to ticket prices are supplemented ire of customers and consumer set minimum prices in a bid to with charges for extras like print- groups by introducing charges for encourage the sector as the coun- ing boarding passes and carrying everything from printing board- try seeks to rebalance its post- luggage, flew 5 percent more pas- ing cards to booking flights on its Fukushima energy mix. sengers last year, but earned 20 web site. A wholly owned unit in Tokyo percent more on extras. But O’Leary, its outspoken boss, said it will invest in a solar power That helped lift net profit insists the fact Ryanair flies more generation project in Ibaraki pre- 13 percent to a record ¤569m international passengers than any fecture on the outskirts of Tokyo, ($730m) in the year through other airline makes Ryanair the which is due to start operation in March, ahead of an average ana- “world’s favourite airline”, a slo- January 2015. lyst forecast of ¤558m in a com- gan previously used by British The firm, Japan Renewable pany poll. Airways. Energy, will put some 13bn yen Its shares rose more than 9 It remains to be seen if into the project, its first, which percent to a ¤6.90 peak. Ryanair can sustain the same will have power generation capac- Chief Executive Michael level of growth in add-ons. Chief ity of 40 megawatt, a company O’Leary said the result was a Operating Officer Michael Cawley spokesman said. “testimony to the strength of said in an interview last week it The Ibaraki project is just one Ryanair’s ultra-low cost model.” was difficult to predict ancillary of a number of ventures involv- Key to the increase in so called revenues in the medium term, ing wind or solar that Japan “ancillary” charges was the roll- saying management had been sur- Renewable Energy is part of in out of a scheme to allow the prised by the success of reserved Japan, it said, with the business advance booking of specific seats seating. daily Nikkei saying it would pour across the network, allowing pas- He said ancillaries would likely up to 300bn yen ($2.9bn) into the sengers to bypass the sometimes grow a little ahead of passenger sector over coming years. unruly rush to secure good seats growth. AFP on Ryanair flights. REUTERS

Yahoo strikes $1.1bn Tumblr deal

NEW YORK: Yahoo! unveiled Yahoo!” she added. “This will grow “The product roadmap, their its biggest deal yet under chief Yahoo! users by 50 percent.” team, their wit and irreverence will Marissa Mayer yesterday, snag- The companies said the deal all remain the same as will their ging blogging platform Tumblr is worth $1.1bn, “substantially mission to empower creators to for $1.1bn in a move to get all of which is payable in cash.” make their best work and get it in younger users into the orbit of Yahoo! chief financial officer Ken front of the audience they deserve.” the struggling Internet pioneer. Goldman said it includes “a small Karp, in his own blog post, said The two firms confirmed weekend amount of stock” for Tumblr he was “elated” about the tie-up reports of the tie-up, a deal which founder and CEO David Karp. and sought to allay staff concerns keeps the fast-growing Tumblr Mayer said Tumblr would oper- about any changes. “We’re not turn- largely independent while inte- ate independently but that the ing purple,” he wrote. “Our head- grating technology and advertising groups would “work together to quarters isn’t moving. Our team opportunities. “Tumblr is a game create advertising opportunities isn’t changing. Our roadmap isn’t changer,” Mayer said in a confer- that are seamless and enhance changing... So what’s new? Simply, ence call discussing the acquisition. user experience.” Tumblr gets better faster. The work “Tumblr is one of the fastest “We promise not to screw it ahead of us remains the same — and growing media networks in the up,” Mayer said in a blog post on we still have a long way to go! — but world,” and “brings a signifi- Tumblr, as Yahoo! moved its official with more resources to draw from.” cant new community of users to company blog to the new platform. AFP TUESDAY 21 MAY 2013 BUSINESS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 19 Oil exports Arkan may sell from Yemen rebound in $300m sukuk first quarter

DUBAI: Yemen’s oil export volumes rose 14 percent in the this week first quarter of 2013, earning the government $35m more than in the same period of 2012, according to data published by Order book in excess of $500m Yemen’s central bank yesterday. Attacks on Yemen’s oil pipe- DUBAI: Saudi developer Dar the kingdom, with analysts say- lines since 2011 cut the govern- Al Arkan could raise around ing Saudi needs to build up to ment’s oil exports from 6.4 million $300m through its first global 275,000 homes a year for the next barrels in the first quarter of 2011 debt issue in more than three five years to satisfy demand. to 5.69 million barrels in the same years, aiming to secure funding Market talk puts the size of the period of 2012. to capitalise on opportunities in latest deal at around $300m, a Higher oil prices in early 2012 Saudi’s real estate sector. banking source said on condition helped make up for the lower vol- The company plans to raise a of anonymity. Early price guid- umes, boosting Yemen’s oil income five-year Islamic bond and began ance for the deal was for a yield by $10m to $696m despite fewer marketing it to investors yester- of 6.25 percent, the statement barrels being sold. day, ahead of pricing later this added, with lead managers say- Global oil prices have fallen week, banks arranging the deal ing in a later update orders were again in early 2013, compared to said in a statement. in excess of $500m. the first quarter of last year, but Dar Al Arkan last tapped mar- Standard & Poor’s earlier this Yemen exported an additional kets for a dollar sukuk in 2010, month raised Dar Al Arkan’s out- 790,000 barrels in the first three when it priced a $450m deal at look to positive on its B+ rating, Sami Pienimaki, one of the founders of Jolla company, and his brother Tomi Pienimaki (right), the company’s CEO, months of 2013, with 6.48 mil- 10.75 percent. The paper was bid four notches below investment present the new Jolla smartphone in Helsinki yesterday lion sold for a total of $730.76m, at 110 cents on the dollar yes- grade. “Dar Al Arkan’s upcom- Central Bank figures show. terday, according to Thomson ing sukuk should receive adequate Yemen’s oil and gas pipelines Reuters data, to yield 4.6 percent, demand in the 6.25 percent area,” Ex-Nokia staff launch smartphone have repeatedly been sabotaged down from about 6.2 percent at said Gus Chehayeb, director of by insurgents or angry tribes- the beginning of the year. Middle East and Africa corpo- men since anti-government That previous transaction, rate research at investment firm HELSINKI: A group of ex- runs on its own operating system devices in one year.” Jolla hopes to protests in early 2011 created a the first ever bond from a Saudi Exotix in Dubai. Nokia employees who quit called Sailfish OS, a successor to take on markets in China, Europe power vacuum in the Arabian entity available to investors in the Yet Chehayeb cautioned that over the company’s decision to MeeGo and which is compatible and North Africa, but not the Peninsula country, causing fuel United States, came at the height the pricing could have been higher abandon the planned MeeGo with some Android applications. United States. shortages and slashing export of a regional property slowdown as there was concern in the mar- operating system in favour of The company is offering Sailfish Mikael Rautanen, an analyst at earnings. and Dubai’s credit crisis, which ket that Dar Al Arkan would fol- Windows presented their own products to retailer and operator equity research company Inderes, Because of the attacks, Yemen’s affected sentiment across the low the issuance with a generous smartphone yesterday, hoping partners for the medium-price deemed the new phone’s technical oil needs were not met by its region. dividend — which Dar Al Arkan to rival the sector’s giants. range. qualities as average but said Jolla’s own production in the first half Since then, however, there has ruled out in a separate bourse The Jolla smartphone, which is According to Marc Dillon, head innovative strategy and moderate of 2012. There has been some been a recovery in the sector, filing. entirely intuitive and has no but- of Sailfish development, existing pricing may appeal to the public. improvement this year, however, boosted by prospects for a new Shares in Dar Al Arkan closed tons, is “a strong candidate” on operating systems “do not really “If Jolla manages to sell two and Yemen was able to channel mortgage law in Saudi, as well as down 6.3 percent after the divi- the mid- to high-range market, support a great deal of flexibility. million phones in the year follow- 5.58 million barrels of its oil to rising demand for regional debt, dend comment, having risen 14.4 the Helsinki-based company said. One (iOS) is completely closed ing the launch, then we can talk the domestic market over the first which should allow Dar Al Arkan percent in the first two trading The model, which is so far just and one (Android) pushes its own about success,” he said. three months of 2013. to substantially lower its funding days this week. called Jolla, has a 4.5-inch touch services pretty heavily.” Smartphone operating sys- Yemen has agreed to sell costs. Banks arranging the sukuk screen and features two different- “I see that Sailfish will be used tems are dominated by Google’s all its expected oil exports for Saudi is expected to experience were Bahrain-based Bank Al coloured halves that together on lots of different devices from Android and Apple’s iOS. Jolla’s July, around 2.1 million barrels a real estate boom once a long- Khair, Deutsche Bank, Emirates make up the phone. other manufacturers as well. We Sailfish, like Microsoft’s Windows or nearly 68,000bpd of Masila awaited mortgage law, announced NBD, Goldman Sachs and It is to go on sale in the fourth have a constant stream of inter- and Mozilla’s Firefox, are trying crude, to China International last June, is introduced. A short- Qatari pair Masraf Al Rayan and quarter, retailing for ¤399 ($513). est,” he said. to break their dominance on the United Petroleum & Chemicals age of low and medium-cost QInvest. The company is profiling itself Dillon said he would be “very market. Co (Unipec). housing is a significant issue in REUTERS as a “different” manufacturer, and happy with one million sold AFP REUTERS Saudi to import near-record high diesel this summer

SINGAPORE/DUBAI: Saudi Higher overseas purchases by start in early July. “Aramco’s Arabia will import near record Saudi Arabia should help boost expecting very high demand this high diesel volumes this sum- spot premiums and support weak summer and they are stocking mer, as it gears up to beat the Asian gasoil margins as Aramco up before Ramadan. The demand sweltering heat and meet rising imports from countries such as growth is higher compared to travel needs during Ramadan, India and Singapore. previous summers as there are trade sources said. Aramco relies heavily on several infrastructure expansion State oil giant Saudi Aramco imported diesel in summer when projects ongoing,” one middle dis- will import up to 8.9 million bar- demand for electricity peaks with tillates trader said. rels of diesel in June, up from an rising use of air conditioning as Refinery glitches also led to estimated 6.7 to 7.5 million barrels temperatures soar to a grilling 50 higher imports, traders said. in May, according to the sources, degrees Celsius. “The Sasref unit was down and who expect at least the same vol- To cut its imports, Aramco has the Jeddah refinery maintenance ume or higher to be booked for planned three new refineries. But has been extended. These all add July. the first of these which will pro- to why they’re buying higher Top oil exporter Saudi Arabia duce 176,000 barrels per day of than usual. The summer demand shipped in record diesel volumes diesel comes online in the second is already here and they need to of 8.99 million barrels in July, 2011, half of 2013, instead of the second stock up for more.” up from 8.13 million in June that quarter as previously expected, Saudi Aramco shut a desul- year, government data published traders said. phurisation unit at its 305,000 bar- from 2002 through the Joint Until the refinery — a joint rels-per-day joint venture Sasref Organisations Data Initiative venture with France’s Total and Jubail refinery with Royal Dutch showed. Saudi Aramco Total Refining and Shell in April due to a problem. “I think this year, the July, 2011 Petrochemicals Co’s (Satorp) Spot premiums for the 500 number might be surpassed as Jubail refinery — is at full capac- parts per million (ppm) sul- Saudi’s diesel demand is growing ity, Aramco will buy heavily to phur gasoil, which is the grade every year and their new refinery ensure it is covered for Ramadan, imported by Saudi Arabia, have is not expected at least until later when travel within the region sig- edged up ahead of the summer this year,” a Gulf-based trader nificantly picks up. demand. said. This year, Ramadan is due to REUTERS

Caja Madrid becomes Bankia

A worker removes a Caja Madrid signage to replace it with Bankia logos at a Bankia branch in Madrid yesterday. TUESDAY 21 MAY 2013 20 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS Qatari bourse Hydrogen Highway woes index adds 55 points Kuwait extends rally; Dubai slips

DOHA: Qatar’s main index families rose after a favourable rose for the second trading day court ruling. yesterday, albeit marginally, Kuwaiti newspaper reports after breaching the magical said Libya will have to pay the barrier of 9,000 points to a two- Kharafi Group $930m in dam- year high on Sunday. ages for former leader Muammar With a 55 points (0.61 percent) Gaddafi’s cancelling of the con- gain, the benchmark index inched struction of a vacation resort. up to 9,064 points at the close of Telco Zain gained 2.9 per- trading. cent, National Industries Group The trading value yesterday Holding climbed two percent and was a record QR456.83m, remi- National Investments Company niscing the days of stock boom rose 2.4 percent. several years ago when average Most large-caps rose, pushing daily turnovers used to be close the bluechip Kuwait 15 index up to half-a-billion riyals. 13 points. “We expect the market Trading volumes also jumped to continue its positive perform- many times over and were yes- ance and maintain above the 8,000 terday 13.87 million across more points level mainly driven by the than 6,300 deals. positive sentiment and the new Analysts said the rise was due liquidity channelled to the market,” Mark Schultz, operations manager for HydraFLX, pumps fuel into a special hydro-cell vehicle at an alternative energy facility that converts solar and to investors plowing funds back said Fouad Darwish, head of bro- wind energy into hydrogen at Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam in Honolulu, Hawaii. The global financial crisis helped slam the breaks on dreams of into the market after the mega kerage at Global Investment House. a Hydrogen Highway, but the roots of green energy’s mid-life crisis run far deeper. initial public offering (IPO) of The index closed at 8,126 points. Doha Global Investment was put In Saudi Arabia, shares in devel- off without assigning a new date oper Dar Al Arkan halted two for its launch. sessions of sharp gains after the Taqa looking at Large numbers of small Qatari firm said in a bourse statement it investors had been offloading would not be paying a dividend for All eyes on Vodafone’s Colao share options after stocks on the bourse (Qatar 2012 as it looks to fund business Exchange) to mobilize cash to growth. The stock fell 6.3 percent. dual listing report subscribe to the IPO. The kingdom’s benchmark However, when it was climbed 0.1 percent, up for a for signs on Verizon Wireless ABU DHABI: Abu Dhabi announced that the primary offer fourth-straight session to hit a National Energy Company was being postponed they were fresh one-year high. Bluechips LONDON: After months of in its main sales measurement negative due to competition and (Taqa) said yesterday it was disappointed and began putting supported gains, with the banking speculation, Vodafone’s Vittorio since the company started using even the operations in emerging looking at ways to improve the their money back into the bourse, shares measure adding 0.5 per- Colao will be under pressure that metric in 2003. markets such as India have posted liquidity of its shares but had an analyst said. cent and the petrochemical sector next week to set out whether Analysts are also expecting slowing growth. not taken any steps to remove A mix of other factors were also index up 0.3 percent. he may sell its prized stake in the group to forecast a fall in The pressures on the business, a barrier to foreigners holding into play like world and regional In the United Arab Emirates, Verizon Wireless in what would free cash flow for the next finan- compounded by regulatory cuts its stock. stocks doing well and the Group profit-taking slowed the recent be one of the biggest deals ever. cial year, to March 2014, due to to how mobile operators charge Abu Dhabi newspaper The pumping liquidity into the mar- rally on the two main bourses. Chief executive for five years, increasing investment needs and each other for connecting calls, National said yesterday that Taqa ket, said prominent stock analyst Dubai’s Arabtec fell 2.1 per- Colao has said only that he has the continuing torrid conditions have helped complicate Vodafone’s was considering a dual listing on Bashir Al Kahlout. cent after thousands of workers an “open mind” on Vodafone’s in some of Vodafone’s biggest calculations on whether finally to the London stock exchange and Meanwhile, Kuwait’s bourse at the firm staged a rare strike, 45-percent stake in the US opera- European markets. sell out of Verizon Wireless. an opening up of its free-float of extended sharp year-to-date gains demanding higher pay. tor, whose majority owner, Verizon But the sharp fall in fourth The largest mobile operator in shares domestically to foreign in heavy trading yesterday, while The emirate’s benchmark Communications, is interested in quarter group organic service the United States, is growing at a investors. profit-taking weighed on bourses snapped a nine-session rally, fall- buying out the British company’s revenue, after a fall of 2.6 percent rapid rate and throwing off cash Taqa is 75 percent owned by the in the United Arab Emirates and ing 0.5 percent to trim year-to- share. in the third quarter, is seen as the to its two parents. But Vodafone Abu Dhabi government, while for- other markets were mixed. date gains to 44.3 percent. With a possible asking price likely low point for the firm, due dislikes not having control of eigners are currently not allowed to Kuwait’s index rose 1.3 per- Abu Dhabi benchmark slipped around $120bn, the topic may to a peak in regulatory cuts and assets and Verizon has stepped up trade in the remaining stock listed cent to hit a fresh 46-month off its 54-month high, fall- well dominate Vodafone’s annual the timing of a leap year last year. the pressure in recent months for on the Abu Dhabi stock market. high, trading KD111m ($387.9m). ing 1.2 percent. Turnover has results presentation today, high- “This free cash flow guidance it to sell. While the Abu Dhabi bourse Companies owned by one of surged on the two markets. lighting the pressures on profits is lower than prior guidance ... Two people familiar with the has boomed this year, rising 33.9 Kuwait’s largest merchant THE PENINSULA/REUTERS elsewhere in the company and the reflecting rising investment needs situation have told Reuters that percent year-to-date, Taqa’s stock dilemma faced by its Italian CEO. and greater macro pressures; Verizon is preparing a possible has declined 4.4 percent in the A source familiar with the however, this is already antici- $100bn bid to take control of same period. QATARI MARKET situation surrounding a possi- pated by consensus,” Goldman the unit, although that is seen “Taqa confirms (it is) exploring Bond Coupon Maturity Currency Mid-Price Yield Moody’s S&P ble bid for the stake by Verizon Sachs said in a note to clients. by analysts and investors as opportunities to enhance the liquid- Qatar Govt 5.15% 4/9/2014 USD 103.88 0.71 % Aa2 AA Communications said: “All their Vodafone has been hit hard by merely a starting point in the ity of its shares traded on the Abu eyes are on May 21 Vodafone recession in southern European negotiations. Dhabi exchange but has not taken Qatar Govt 3.125% 1/20/2017 USD 105.75 1.51 % Aa2 AA earnings, and what Vodafone will markets like Spain and Italy, The consensus among Vodafone any decisions in this regard,” the Qatar Govt 6.55% 4/9/2019 USD 124.38 2.12 % Aa2 AA say about Verizon Wireless,” where customers are cutting analysts is that the stake would company said “Currently, foreign Qatar Govt 5.25% 1/20/2020 USD 117.38 2.41 % Aa2 AA Analysts are expecting back on using phones, resulting need to be sold for around $120 ownership of Taqa shares is not Qatar Govt 4.5% 1/20/2022 USD 113.00 2.80 % Aa2 AA Vodafone to post organic service in double-digit quarterly declines. billion or more to compensate for possible and we have not applied Qatar Govt 9.75% 6/15/2030 USD 174.00 3.81 % Aa2 AA revenue in the fourth quarter In the past year, its British and the loss of earnings. for any change to that,” it added. Qatar Govt 6.4% 1/20/2040 USD 133.25 4.29 % Aa2 AA down 4.3 percent, the worst fall German markets have also turned REUTERS REUTERS Qatar Govt 5.75% 1/20/2042 USD 124.00 4.29 % Aa2 AA Qatari Diar 3.5% 7/21/2015 USD 104.88 1.21 % Aa2 AA Qatari Diar 5% 7/21/2020 USD 114.50 2.76 % Aa2 AA Comqat 5% 11/18/2014 USD 105.38 1.33 % A1 A- Comqat 3.375% 4/11/2017 USD 104.25 2.23 % A1 A- QIB 3.856% 10/7/2015 USD 104.75 1.81 % NR NR Danone to ramp up presence in China QNB 3.125% 11/16/2015 USD 103.75 1.58 % Aa3 A+ PARIS: QNB 3.375% 2/22/2017 USD 104.63 2.09 % Aa3 A+ French food industry says it is “the largest supplier of With the support of COFCO’s percent of Mengniu. group Danone said yesterday diversified products and services expertise in the Chinese food “But we have the intention to Doha Bank 3.5% 3/14/2017 USD 104.38 2.29 % A2 A- it is ramping up its presence in in the agricultural products and industry “our brands will benefit go above 4 percent up to 10 per- Qtel 3.375% 10/14/2016 USD 106.00 1.56 % A2 A /*- the growing Chinese market for food industry in China”. from significantly wider reach to cent in the coming months,” said Qtel 7.875% 6/10/2019 USD 130.00 2.50 % A2 A /*- dairy products with two deals to A joint statement said that the the largest number of Chinese a Danone spokeswoman. “We Qtel 4.75% 2/16/2021 USD 111.63 3.05 % A2 A /*- tap sales of yogurt and health strategy targeted “the production consumers,” he said. believe in the future of this com- Qtel 5% 10/19/2025 USD 109.25 4.04 % A2 A /*- foods. and sales of chilled yogurt prod- COFCO said that it was pany and want to participate in Rasgas 5.5% 9/30/2014 USD 105.63 1.29 % Aa3 A Danone said it was invest- ucts in China, combining their “devoted to utilising renewable its decision making processes.” Rasgas 5.832% 9/30/2016 USD 108.25 3.22 % Aa3 A ing about ¤325m ($418m) to respective assets in this category.” natural resources to provide The second venture will be Rasgas 5.298% 9/30/2020 USD 110.63 3.64 % Aa3 A strengthen its place in the poten- The statement said: “Danone’s healthy and nutritious food.” directly with Mengniu, a Hong tially vast Chinese market, via BIO (Activia) brand will put the Under the agreements, Kong-listed firm established in SOVEREIGNS two joint ventures in distribution new fresh dairy business in a solid Danone is to create a venture 1999, and will group assets from Bond PDA* Maturity Currency Mid-Price Yield Moody’s S&P and production. The intention is position to build its strong leader- with COFCO opening the way both companies which had total Abu Dhabi Govt 5.5% 4/8/2014 USD 104.38 0.48 % Aa2 AA to build on a joint market share ship in the active health sector.” for a strategic partnership with sales in China last year of ¤500m. Abu Dhabi Govt 6.75% 4/8/2019 USD 127.75 1.76 % Aa2 AA of about one fifth of the Chinese Danone Chief Executive Franck Mengniu, a leading Chinese dairy Danone said this activity would market for dairy products. Riboud said that the deals “will product company with an exten- account for an estimated 21.0 per- Dubai Govt 6.7% 10/5/2015 USD 110.25 2.24 % NR NR The two ventures are with create the winning combination to sive distribution network in which cent of the Chinese market and Dubai Govt 4.9% 5/2/2017 USD 107.25 2.94 % NR NR dairy company Mengniu and its unlock the potential of the fresh COFCO holds a majority stake. would comprise 13 factories in China. Dubai Govt 7.75% 10/5/2020 USD 125.50 3.76 % NR NR majority-owner COFCO, which dairy products category in China.” Initially, Danone will hold 4.0 AFP Dubai Govt 6.45% 5/2/2022 USD 118.25 4.00 % NR NR Qatar Govt 4% 1/20/2015 USD 104.69 1.15 % Aa2 AA Bahrain Govt 6.273% 11/22/2018 USD 116.63 2.98 % NR BBB Bahrain Govt 5.5% 3/31/2020 USD 110.13 3.81 % NR BBB India’s Just Dial launches IPO Egypt Govt 5.75% 4/29/2020 USD 91.50 7.33 % Caa1 CCC+ NEW DELHI: India’s Just Dial search engine launched yesterday Morocco Govt 4.5% 10/5/2020 EUR 107.00 3.42 % NR BBB- an initial public offer to raise up to $174m, marking the biggest *Periodic Distribution Amount • Bullion - Mumbai share offering so far in 2013 and one of the largest by an Indian IMPORTANT NOTE: Gold (10 gm) Standard Rs. 25980 Internet firm. Published by HSBC Bank Middle East Limited, P O Box 57, Doha, Qatar which Silver (1 kg) Rs. 45317 is licensed and regulated by Qatar Central Bank and Jersey Financial Services The Mumbai-based local business search firm, which began opera- • Indian Rupees QR1 = 14.99 Commission. Information quoted is from publicly available sources or proprietary tions in the mid-1990s as a telephone-based directory and moved later data and subject to change. HSBC accepts no liability for any loss or damage arising • Sensex to the Internet, is offloading one-quarter of its equity in the initial out of the use of all or part of this material. This information is general and does not BSE 20223.98 public offer (IPO). take into account individual circumstances, objectives or needs. The price of bonds NSE 6156.90 can and does fluctuate. The secondary market for bonds may not provide significant Founded by the company’s managing director, VSS Mani, Just Dial liquidity or may trade based on prevailing market conditions. Past performance is not • Short-term investment plan from LIC International upto 6.4 percent return features 9.1 million Indian business listings on its Justdial.com site a reliable indicator of future performance. You should consider these matters and p.a. (in dollar) while nearly three-quarters of its revenues comes from advertisers. consult your financial advisor prior to making any investment decisions. • Housing loan from HDFC LTD It aims to tap the buoyant Indian stock market and sell 17.5 million • Mutual Fund: Buy & Sell: SBI MF, HDFC MF, UTI MF, Birla Sun Life MF, shares to raise up to Rs950bn ($174m). Mani established the company, Tata MF, Reliance MF etc. which posted profit last year of Rs523m, with seed capital of just $1,000. • Advise on Indian Income Tax matters for NRIs. The company’s growth has been fuelled by India’s explosive expansion Contact: Investec, Tel: 44325060/44365060 email: [email protected] of mobile and Internet subscribers. AFP TUESDAY 21 MAY 2013 BUSINESS VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 21

Let’s forget HS2 and Shrinking US deficit reduces invest in high-speed pressure for budget contract BY JASON LANGE AND DAVID that the agency scrutinised conservative revenues hard, the situation could get worse. LAWDER broadband instead groups seeking tax exemptions. “It’s one more reason for Congress to do The news about the shrinking deficit nothing,” said Ethan Siegal, a budget ana- BY CHARLES ARTHUR he chances of a deal between came on Tuesday, when the Congressional lyst at The Washington Exchange, who sees Democratic and Republican law- Budget Office slashed its deficit forecast for some possibility of corporate tax reform. t Google’s developer conference in San Francisco, its makers that would overhaul the 2013, projecting it will be equivalent to four For some, the continued budget grid- chief executive Larry Page took part in an impromptu US tax system, trim government percent of America’s economic output, less lock, now less threatening, is good news. Q&A session. What, one person asked, was the point spending and reform safety net than half its 2009 level, and will drop to 2.1 The reduction in political uncertainty in Aof the company’s rollout of optical fibre networking in Tspending programmes appear to be fading. percent, based on current projections, by Washington has helped US stock prices to places such as Kansas City, where it is offering connections that A sudden improvement in the outlook for 2015. But the report said the deficit would reach record highs in the past few weeks. run at 1,000 megabits per second (100 times faster than the best the US government deficit over the next start widening again in 2016 and continue The quick drop in the deficit “should in the UK) for about $70 per month? decade has alleviated some of the pres- on an upward path with “serious negative definitely reduce people’s fears of instabil- Page’s reply: “It’s sad that all these computers are connected sure on lawmakers to act. And a spate of consequences” on the economy, increasing ity,” said Alec Phillips, a Washington-based by such a tiny pipe … things will have to change. Gigabit speeds scandals, involving the Internal Revenue “the risk of a fiscal crisis.” economist for Goldman Sachs, who tracks are just the beginning.” Service, security for the US mission in The differing reactions to the figures fiscal policy for the Wall Street bank. He’s so right. Fast connections just make the entire experience Benghazi and the seizure of phone records were telling. But battles over the debt ceiling, while of working online different. You know that yourself: if you were to from the Associated Press news agency, has “I’m gonna smile for this,” White House unsettling to Wall Street, have provided the be taken back now to the world of dial-up, where your connection distracted Congress and the White House. Press Secretary Jay Carney said at his daily impetus and crisis atmosphere that pro- ran at a maximum of 56 kilobits per second (that’s how it was For those who believe there needs to be briefing on Wednesday by pointing to the duced the tax hikes on the wealthy intro- about 10 years ago for most UK internet users, children), you’d radical reform to put the US budget on a projections for the next 10 years. duced in January, and the across-the-board feel the pain. Optical fibre means you can have connections that more balanced long-term course, or who The Republican-controlled House budget cuts, known as the “sequester,” that are so quick that you can both download and upload at speeds that want a simpler tax system, congressional Budget Committee, chaired by Wisconsin are being imposed now. The government let you watch or send HD-quality pictures in real time. inaction might be disheartening. Representative Paul Ryan, put out a state- received $1.6trn in taxes in the first four Which is why all the talk of spending billions on the HS2 high- “Both sides have hardened in their posi- ment calling the figures “a fresh reminder months of the year, a record high for this speed rail plan infuriates me. It’s such a stupid waste of money, tions and fiscal fatigue seems to have taken of Washington’s out-of-control spending,” time period. when what we should be doing is building high-speed optical fibre over,” said Steve Bell, a Republican who is calling attention to the fact that long-term Republican deficit hawks worry that connections across the UK. It would probably cost a little less than a senior director at the Bipartisan Policy projections by the CBO remained dismal. the clock will run out on the possibility HS2, but it would bring far greater benefits both in the short and Centre. Lawmakers had taken notice of the shift of reform of so-called entitlements, like long term. Start with the obvious ones. Building HS2 will, it’s true, The numbers “put out the fire among the in the fiscal dynamic before that report. Medicare, the government health insurance be an economic pump-primer: it’ll generate billions in construction. hair-on-fire crowd,” said Jared Bernstein, Obama, who made little headway in con- programme for seniors, and Social Security. However, so will digging the channels and stringing up the lines senior fellow at the Center on Budget and vincing his party to support cuts to future “Just because the patient is getting better needed for optical cable. But whereas the immediate construction Policy Priorities and former economic Social Security benefits, will have an harder for a while, doesn’t mean we shouldn’t act,” benefit from HS2 will be felt in a very limited corridor, installing adviser to Democratic Vice President Joe time now, Bernstein said. said Representative Tom Cole, an Oklahoma optical fibre won’t push anyone out of their house, and would produce Biden. But, he said, “the chances that this Last week, several liberal Democrats Republican who sits on the House Budget benefits nationwide. It would be the ultimate economic boost, but Congress does anything useful, which were from the House of Representatives said they and Appropriations committees. without any of the drawbacks, and with the advantage that most of already low, are even lower.” supported expanding the programme’s ben- “This is going to be much more difficult the economic activity will be in rural areas, which need it more than “Probably, if you’re in the White House, efits for people with disabilities. in 2014, so now seems an auspicious time to overserved cities. What about once it’s built? HS2 will be good for you’re more worried about the IRS,” If the United States experienced act,” he said, referring to the mid-term elec- all those people who live in London and want to visit the provinces Bernstein said. Last week, media reported another recession, which could hit tax tions. REUTERS before scuttling back at the end of the day. If you think that it will lead to people spending more time in the provinces having travelled “down” from London, here’s a reality check: given the choice between staying a night in a regional hotel and getting back on a late high- speed train to the capital, corporate people will choose the latter. Result: more empty hotel rooms in the provinces, not fewer. Compare that to optical fibre: once everyone has it, or has reasonable access to it, we can all participate in some sort of economic activity all the time. The most surprising thing about optical is the effect that it has once you can upload as fast as you download (so-called “symmetric” connections). It means that your local cricket match can attract thousands of spectators from all over the world. And that’s just the start; it also means you don’t have to ferry people back and forth on trains or in cars because you can have realistic video conferences on large screens. With energy prices rising, optical fibre uses less energy than copper to get a better result. But how much will it cost, you ask, and who will pay? In 2008, the cost of wiring up the entire nation with fibre-optic was put at £30bn by the Broadband Stakeholder Group. Since then, BT and Virgin have gone some way to reducing that by rolling out fibre. However, we shouldn’t leave it to private enter- prise – in part because government rules tax new optical fibre at bizarre rates, while favouring those with an installed base such as BT. That dissuades private industry from laying new optical fibre until it’s sure it will have complete take-up. But who’s going to sign up for a service that might not be available for a couple of years? More sensible to go with BT’s expensive offering. That’s why the absurd HS2 project should be killed right away, and any money that the government was going to put into it should be diverted into a national fibre rollout with the aim of giving every household easy access to superfast connectivity, which a range of different providers could vie for. The government can own the network and make it available to commercial players; that would prevent BT getting a tie-up. Or of course it can ignore this advice. But don’t be too surprised if in a few years Google decides that it’s going to do the same as it has done in the US, and comes in to build its own network and disrupt the cosy incumbents. That would be the company that government ministers and MPs have been condemning for being “immoral” and “evil”. For the government to sit back and let that happen while they splurge money on a retrograde transport scheme that belongs in the Victorian era — well, that would be really evil. THE GUARDIAN Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate It is not just economics, austerity is a moral issue too BY NICHOLAS WAPSHOTT So much for the economics of and racist extreme parties that political systems. We have to give they claim to be rescuing by their Seventy years after German austerity. That is only half the scapegoat minorities. Traditional people some hope or this is going tough love: closer European unity. troops massacred 498 men in n the nearly five years since story, however. Austerity is a parties take turns taking the to foment conflict and mutual Nor is it rescuing the euro, the cold blood in the Greek village of the worst financial crash moral issue, too. It inflicts enor- blame, with voters turfing out hatred.” troubled single European cur- Kalavryta, in reprisal at the kill- since the Great Depression, mous misery upon hundreds of incumbents of both right and left Archbishop Ieronymos, head rency designed to bind European ing of German soldiers by Greek Ithe remedy for the world’s millions. To an American living to punish them for complicity in of the Greek Orthodox Church, nations in an ever-closer embrace. partisans, the Greek government economic doldrums has swung under a relatively generous eco- inflicting such general misery. has written to the Greek premier The latest economic data shows is citing such incidents to prove from full-on Keynesianism to nomic regime that is providing The prospect of no work is to warn against administering the 27-nation European Union to Germany owes $213bn in unpaid unforgiving austerity and back. annual growth at 2.5 percent, the diminishing and socially corrosive. “larger doses of a medicine that is be in recession for the sixth con- Second World War reparations. The initial Keynesian response scale of unemployment in Europe Depression is rife. Cuts to health proving deadly.” “Greeks’ unprec- secutive quarter. The euro bloc of Europe’s economic turmoil halted the collapse in economic is alarming. budgets have led to a sharp rise edented patience is running out,” 17 nations has also been in reces- is dragging the world economy activity. But it was soon met by We think 7.5 percent is too high. in HIV cases. New research from he said, “fear is giving way to rage, sion for six quarters. Far from down. It is against this destruc- borrowers’ remorse in the shape In Greece, it has reached 27 per- Stanford and Oxford Universities and the danger of a social explo- bolstering the value of the euro, tive display of unnecessary and of paying down debt and raising cent and youth unemployment is suggests austerity is deeply dam- sion cannot be ignored.” austerity policies are causing it counterproductive masochism taxes without delay. In the last at an appalling 64 percent. Much aging to individuals and sharply In London, where the ruling to slide against the dollar. Yet the that many here continue to year, full-throttle austerity has the same is happening in Spain, increases the number of suicides. coalition’s austerity programme EU insists there is no alternative: demand that the US sequester fallen out of favour with those with 27.2 percent unemployed and While mainstream politicians has led the nation twice back Austerity is the only cure, even if be allowed to continue slash- charged with monitoring the youth unemployment hitting 57 revel in their impotence, religious into recession, the leader of the it kills the patient. ing at public spending. On top world economy. percent. Italy’s 11 percent unem- leaders are speaking out with Anglican church, the archbishop Germany, with Europe’s strong- of this, Tea Party insurgents in Christine Lagarde, manag- ployed figure disguises the fact unprecedented vigour. It takes a of Canterbury, argues that “what est economy, has almost alone the Republican Party prevent the ing director of the International that more than that number have lot before senior churchmen dare we are in at the moment is not among EU nations benefited vacillating party leadership from Monetary Fund, has been urg- given up looking for jobs — so the to intervene in politics, for fear a recession but essentially some from the acceptance of the euro, leading. ing German Chancellor Angela real jobless tally is more than 20 they will offend half their follow- kind of depression. It therefore which, particularly in its weak Few doubt that the level of Merkel, who has been impos- percent. ers. But the extent of the despair takes something very, very major state, keeps the prices of exports national debt is unsustainable ing singeing public spending cuts The social cost of austerity can being endured has changed the to get us out of it, in the same way unnaturally cheap. But German and must eventually be paid on her neighbours, and George be found in widespread political equation. as it took something very major prosperity comes at an enormous down, but timing is everything. Osborne, Britain’s finance minis- unrest, including mass public The Roman Catholic primate to get us into it.” cost. Anti-German sentiment A glance across the Atlantic offers ter, who has been doing the same demonstrations that often spill of Spain, Braulio Rodriguez, arch- There is little sign that in Europe is rife — particularly a chilling insight into what would to the Brits, to ease up. The IMF is into violence. Hard times are bishop of Toledo, predicts that Europe’s political leaders, in par- among Mediterranean nations, happen here if the fiscal hawks now urging fiscal measures beyond encouraging the adoption of sim- austerity will lead to despotism. ticular Germany’s unwavering which are reviving memories get their way and start imposing monetary easing “to nurture a sus- ple-minded political solutions, and “We have to change direction,” Merkel, grasp the seriousness of atrocities committed during European-style austerity. tainable recovery and restore the Europe has seen an upsurge in the he said this week, “otherwise of their dilemma. Yet austerity German occupation in the Second It won’t be pretty. resilience of the global economy.” electoral success of undemocratic this is going to bring down whole is undermining the very cause World War. REUTERS TUESDAY 21 MAY 2013 22 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MARKET

QE Indices Summary EXCHANGE QE Index 9,064.31 0.61 % WORLD STOCK INDICES GOLD & SILVER QE Total Return Index 12,950.82 0.61 % QE Al Rayan Islamic Index 2,748.95 0.76 % RATE QE All Share Index 2,302.96 0.53 % INDEX Day’s Close Pt Chg % Chg Year High Year Low QE All Share Banks & Financial 2,142.98 0.53 % GOLD Buying Selling Services All Ordinaries 5185.441 25.665 0.5 5229.8 4664.6 QE All Share Consumer Goods & 5,518.52 0.04 % QR159.4557 US$ ...... QR 3.6305 QR 3.6500 Services Cac 40 Index/D 4007.25 5.98 0.15 4018.84 3584.38 QE All Share Industrials 3,139.41 0.26 % SILVER UK ...... QR 5.5038 QR 5.5817 QE All Share Insurance 2,191.69 3.10 % Dj Indu Average 15354.4 121.18 0.8 15357.4 12035.1 QR 2.5609 Euro ...... QR 4.6568 QR 4.7215 QE All Share Real Estate 1,770.79 2.38 % CA$ ...... QR 3.5083 QR 3.5773 QE All Share Telecoms 1,255.85 0.09 % Egypt Cma Gn Idx 1026.29 32.57 3.28 999.95 312.38 Swiss Fr ...... QR 3.7358 QR 3.7894 QE All Share Transportation 1,623.92 1.95 % Hang Seng Inde/D 23493.03 410.35 1.78 23944.74 21423.25 Yen ...... QR 0.0352 QR 0.0359 QE Market Summary Comparison Aus$ ...... QR 3.5317 QR 3.6020 Iseq Overall/D 4072.22 67.65 1.69 4025.02 3396.67 CRUDE OIL Today Previous day Ind Re ...... QR 0.0655 QR 0.0668 20-05-2013 19-05-2013 Karachi 100 In/D 20814.14 277.11 1.35 20744.53 16036.31 Pak Re ...... QR 0.0367 QR 0.0374 Index 9,064.31 9,009.43 BRENT Change 54.88 92.53 Nikkei 225 Index 15360.81 222.69 1.47 15157.32 10398.61 Peso ...... QR 0.0876 QR 0.0893 % 0.61 1.04 $ 104.26 SL Re ...... QR 0.0286 QR 0.0291 YTD% 8.44 7.78 S&P 500 Index/D 0 0 0 1667.47 1266.74 Taka ...... QR 0.0464 QR 0.0473 Volume 1 3 , 8 7 2 , 5 4 5 1 0 , 9 6 4 , 2 5 1 DUBAI Nep Re ...... QR 0.0412 QR 0.0420 Value (QAR) 456,838,757.00 376,487,431.31 Straits Times/D 3454.23 4.93 0.14 3457.07 3160.83 Trades 6,376 5,383 SA Rand ...... QR 0.3815 QR 0.3893 Straits Times/D 2971.47 22.7 0.77 3035.78 2657.77 $ 101.67 Up 25 | Down 12 | Unchanged 03

QATAR EXCHANGE | DAILY TRADING REPORT | 20-05-2013

INTERNATIONAL MARKETS A List of Shares from the world

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

A C C-A/D 1248 -10.65 18402 Century Text-A/D 325.4 2.1 193743 Himat Seide-B/D 33.5 -1.05 6896 Klg Systel-B/D 8.2 -0.1 4385 Reliance Indus/D 410.55 8.35 491947 Kingfisher/D 330.145 -0.5 876878 Aarti Drugs-B/D 223.55 13.4 31757 Chambal Fert-B/D 48.5 0.1 249634 Hind Unilever-/D 586.3 0.45 63560 Kopran-B/D 14 -0.13 14551 Ruchi Soya-B/D 69.25 -0.05 43701 Land Secs Grou/D 997.587 7.5 491267 Aban Offs-B/D 323.75 -1.3 72416 Chola Invest-B/D 281.15 0 19199 Hind Motors-B/D 9.33 -0.44 204944 Lakshmi Mach-B/D 2075.6 39.5 1206 S Bk Bikaner-B/D 434.4 0.7 3378 Legal & Genera/D 186.0458 -0.3 1812444 Ador Welding-B/D 123.85 -0.25 2392 Cipla-A/D 417.4 -7.25 80663 Hind Org Chem-/D 12.71 0.12 12175 Lloyd Metal-B/D 10.5 -0.85 9642 Saur.Cem-B/D 20.5 0 4410 Lloyds Bnk Grp/D 61.98 -0.86 142210871 Aegis Logis-B/D 160.65 -3.05 4610 City Union Bk-/D 56.3 1 657064 Hind.Petrol-A/D 305 -7.55 65281 Lloydsfin.-B/D 0.66 -0.01 2375 Savita Oil-B/D 506.95 37.95 1379 Marks & Sp./D 444.8715 -6.5 2288588 Ahmed.Forg-B/D 105 -1.9 23935 Colgate-A/D 1424.95 -62 32465 Hindalco-A/D 109.95 -0.2 379940 Lok.Hous&Con-B/D 15.2 -0.7 422435 Thirumalai-B/D 98.2 -0.3 4725 Next/D 4650 -43 96891 Alembic-B/D 20 -0.4 24302 Dai-Bichi Kar-/D 40 -2 7250 Hous Dev Fin-A/D 897.4 -6.1 103112 Lupin-A/D 768.05 -36.2 182908 Timexgroup-B/D 12.64 0.04 140212 Pearson/D 1215 13 677501 Alok Indus-B/D 9.04 -0.24 738935 Dhampur Sugar-/D 43.1 -0.4 3623 I F C I-A/D 29.8 -0.35 1452960 Lyka Labs-B/D 9.26 -0.14 4122 Tinplate-B/D 41.35 0.7 18830 Prudential/D 1178 -15 783863 Andhra Paper-B/D 218.55 5.75 31649 Dr. Reddy-A/D 2047.55 -30.1 16387 Idbi-A/D 90.65 0 220121 Mah.Seamless-B/D232.65 2.2 4493 Ub Engineer-T/D 20.2 -0.85 8917 Rank Group/D 157.208 4.2 10342 Apollo Tyre-A/D 91.4 0.05 117038 E I H-B/D 60.5 0.4 17466 India Cement-B/D 86.55 -0.85 330414 Mangalam Cem-B/D121.55 1.25 17130 Ucal Fuel-B/D 52 -2.35 8812 Rentokil Initi/D 93.75 0.55 525416 Asahi I Glass-/D 48.95 0.7 11559 E.I.D Parry-B/D 148.55 0.7 21485 India Glycol-B/D 137.75 0.75 6081 Mastek-B/D 126.45 0.25 2677 Ultramarine-B/D 57.35 -0.45 2100 Rolls Royce Pl/D 1180 2 925664 Ashok Leyland-/D 23.95 0.7 1409271 Eicher Motor-A/D 3482.05 32.5 2999 Indian Hotel-A/D 56.4 -0.55 27092 Max India L-A/D 213.15 0.95 12927 Unitech P -A/D 30.3 -0.35 4229197 Rsa Insrance G/D 115.6 -0.3 2392518 Bajaj Hold-A/D 912.4 -4.85 1702 Electrosteel-B/D 18.15 0.95 249473 Indusind-A/D 502.55 -8.6 81175 Mrpl-A/D 46.35 -0.05 67964 Univcable-B/D 31.4 -0.3 1711 Sainsbury(J)/D 377.565 -0.6 1548132 Ballarpur In-B/D 17.05 -0.1 58938 Emco-B/D 20.15 0.6 340912 J.B.Chemical-B/D 85.25 1.85 67723 Nahar Spg.-B/D 79.1 -1.4 10859 Uppergsugar-B/D 41 -2 2286 Schroders/D 2510.625 -23 99811 Bata India-A/D 816.45 3.55 23175 Escorts Fin-B/D 3.25 0.08 1000 Jbf Indu-B/D 111.2 0.6 13107 Nation Alum -A/D 35.2 -0.55 69600 Severn Trent/D 2050 0 447792 Bayer Crop-B/D 1309.5 46.6 22241 Escorts-B/D 66.2 -0.7 300354 Jct Elect P -B/D 0.38 -0.01 4000 Navneet Pub.-B/D 61.25 0.05 19347 LONDON Smith&Nephew/D 778.5 1.5 276264 Beml Ltd-B/D 185.8 -0.65 131360 Essar Oil-A/D 81.5 0.9 505926 Jct Ltd-B/D 0.88 -0.05 60329 Nepc India-B/D 2.25 0.06 26295 Smiths Group/D 1341.4764 -2 111523 Bhansali Eng-T/D 21.35 -0.65 10370 Eveready Indu-/D 17.6 -0.05 51625 Jenson&Nich.-B/D 2.97 -0.26 12862 Neuland Lab-B/D 106.75 -2.85 1193 3i Group/D 356.8 1.8 650225 Standrd Chart /D 1609.5 -13.5 1529150 Bharat Bijle-B/D 480.5 -32.65 41120 F D C-B/D 92.25 -0.75 49940 Jik Indust-B/D 0.89 -0.04 11987 Nrb Bearings-B/D 36.7 0.55 15356 Assoc.Br.Foods/D1909.68 23 283967 Tate & Lyle/D 856.5 6.5 189517 Bhartiya Int-B/D 230.7 0.4 7066 Federal Bank-A/D 469.5 -6.65 11158 Jindal Drill-B/D 218.7 3 1717 O N G C-A/D 332.9 -7.1 221021 B Sky B/D 802.5 9 1424450 Tesco/D 383.15 2.45 5526469 Bhel-A/D 201.9 0.55 643510 Ferro Alloys-B/D 5.3 0.19 14827 Jktyre&Ind-B/D 117 1.35 7325 Ocl India-B/D 150 -0.05 1737 Barclays/D 325.868 -0.85 14140279 Unilever/D 2854 9 412341 Bhuwalka Stl-T/D 11.51 -0.49 1100 Finolex-B/D 121.8 0.85 31476 Jmc Projects-B/D 80.8 -1.65 5250 Oil Country-B/D 44.1 0.25 1707 Bg Group/D 1227.5 -3.5 1420027 United Util Gr/D 778.975 13.5 1150004 Bom.Burmah-B/D 123.9 0.65 17053 Gail-A/D 336.3 -0.65 34005 Kabra Extr-B/D 25.7 1.75 18044 Onward Tech-T/D 39 0.8 1419 Bp/D 470 0.05 4787144 Vodafone Group/D 196.05 -1.65 22303072 Bombay Dyeing-/D 84.8 0.35 323141 Gammon India-B/D 22.85 0.1 32409 Kajaria Cer-B/D 223.15 -5.45 12073 Orchid Chem-B/D 62.7 -0.3 72045 Brit Am Tobacc/D 3736 -26.5 620776 Whitbread/D 2820 22 185007 Cable Corp.-B/D 18.5 0.1 2600 Garden P -B/D 48 0 1405 Kalpat Power-B/D 79.85 1.55 24083 Orient Hotel-B/D 18.5 -0.1 5323 Bt Group/D 316.3 2.3 2521592 Camph.& All-B/D 183.95 -0.9 18605 Goodricke-B/D 130 -0.35 10718 Kalyani Stel-B/D 44.2 0.9 30549 Orient.Carb.-B/D 94.4 -5.6 6158 Centrica/D 388.9 2 1250043 Canfin Homes-B/D 152.7 -0.5 5182 Goodyear I -B/D 279.25 -0.75 23976 Kanoria Chem-B/D 29.05 -0.15 2069 Oudh Sugar-B/D 21.3 -0.35 3514 Gkn/D 310 4.2 2765766 Castrol Ind-A/D 332.15 2.25 15004 Hcl Infosys-B/D 35.5 0 89884 Kg Denim-B/D 15.09 -0.8 6567 Radico Khait-B/D 128.1 2.2 59620 Hsbc Holdings/D 761 2.4 6591272 Century Enka-B/D 116.6 0.5 10200 Him.Fut.Comm-B/D 8.32 -0.03 193894 Kilburnengg-B/D 13.1 -0.32 3493 Rallis India-B/D 139.1 2.7 28958 Imperial Tobac/D 2306 10 503624 TUESDAY 21 MAY 2013 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 23 Qatar Al-Anabi Racing’s Langdon triumphs in Kansas NHRA race Top Fuel dragster defeats Schumacher, moves to second place in overall standings

TOPEKA, Kansas: The Qatar he had never beaten. He has now. manager) put together a phenom- standings, but he has increased Al-Anabi Racing Top Fuel Langdon dispatched Massey and enal team, and I’m just happy to his lead over seventh-place. Team, the two-time World headed to a final-round showdown be a part of it. They don’t settle He now trails fifth-place Doug Championship team owned with seven-time NHRA World for second place; they always want Kalitta by 28 points and leads by Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Champion Tony Schumacher, the to be the best, they always want to seventh-place Brandon Bernstein, Al Thani, and driver Shawn driver he defeated in each of his be No. 1 and have the fastest car. also by 28 points. Langdon won yesterday’s previous two race wins. I love racing for Sheikh Khalid. “Our car was very good again 25th annual NHRA Kansas This time would be no differ- I love racing for Alan Johnson. this weekend,” alBalooshi said. Nationals, the eighth of 24 races ent as Langdon used the superior Brian Husen, my crew chief, we “We made four very good runs that make up America’s 2013 Al-Anabi power plant to motor have great team chemistry. This in qualifying, and today, we made NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing past Schumacher and claim the team did a great job before I got two more good runs. Spencer beat Qatar Al-Anabi season. third win of his young career. there, and they’re doing a great us by a little bit in the second Racing Top Fuel After having what appeared With the win, Langdon moved job now. I’m just lucky to be the round. I still need to do a better to be the car to beat at each of up one position to second place in one driving the car. We were job leaving the starting line faster, driver Shawn the last three events yet failing the NHRA Mello Yello Top Fuel proud to win yeserday’s race for and I am working on that. Our Langdon poses to win the races, Langdon and point standings; he now trails Sheikh Khalid and the people of Al-Anabi car is very good, and I with the trophy the silver Al-Anabi team would Schumacher, the points leader, Qatar.” know everything will be OK. Our represent- not be denied this time. The Top by just 34 points. On the gold side of the day will come because we are get- ing his win in Fuel dragster was brilliance in “The Al-Anabi crew guys just Al-Anabi pit, second-year driver ting better and better every time. yesterday’s motion yesterday in America’s did a phenomenal job this week- Khalid alBalooshi also had a We will try again in New Jersey, NHRA Kansas heartland dispatching each of end,” Langdon said. “We’ve been good weekend. He was the No. 4 and I thank Sheikh Khalid for Nationals in the day’s opponents with preci- close to winning for the last few qualifier on the strength of four this opportunity.” Topeka, Kansas. sion execution. races; the car has been running excellent qualifying attempts. The Al-Anabi Racing team Langdon was the No. 1 qualifier well, but we just had not been On race day, alBalooshi’s car will be back in action May 31 to on the strength of a dazzling run; able to finish it out yesterday. was equally strong. He defeated June 2 at the 44th annual Toyota it was Langdon’s second-straight The Al-Anabi crew had the fire in Brittany Force in the first round NHRA Summernationals in No. 1 qualifier, his third of the their eyes today. We didn’t want of eliminations but lost to Spencer Englishtown, NJ. season and the ninth of his career. to go four races in a row feeling Massey in the quarter-finals; it For additional information, On race day, he defeated No. 16 we had the car to win and not was a very close race with Massey fans are requested to visit www. seed Pat Dakin in the first round getting it done. winning by a mere .0625 seconds. nhra.com. For additional infor- and Steve Torrence in the second. “Sheikh Khalid (team owner With the quarter-final run, mation on the Al-Anabi Racing In the semi-finals, Langdon Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al alBalooshi remains sixth in the Team, fans can visit www.alana- faced Spencer Massey, a driver Thani) and Alan Johnson (team NHRA Mello Yello Top Fuel point biracing.com. THE PENINSULA Bruins maul Rangers to claim 2-0 series lead

NEW YORK: The Boston rocking and once again we’re Callahan beat Rask on a breaka- that first goal and every time they the night to Tyler Kennedy’s NHL Second-round Bruins took control midway going to have to do a good job with way to send the teams into the were able to tie it up we were able second period goal, Ottawa were through the second period to good clean breakouts and playing first intermission deadlocked at to extend the lead. just seconds away from losing a Play-off Results claim a 5-2 win over the New in the offensive zone.” 1-1. “Once we stopped turning third straight to the top-seeded WASHINGTON: Results York Rangers and gain a com- Rookie defenceman Torey Campbell and Nash, with his the puck over at the blueline we Penguins. yesterday from the second manding 2-0 lead in their Krug, Gregory Campbell, Johnny first of the post-season, traded started to frustrate them a bit However, Daniel Alfredsson round of the National Hockey Eastern Conference semi-final Boychuck, Brad Marchand and goals in the second before the and that is going to be key for us scored with 29 seconds left in League play-offs (all series yesterday. Lucic each had a goal for the Bruins seized control on Boychuk’s in Game Three.” regulation, despite the Senators best-of-seven): The best-of-seven series now Bruins while Ryan Callahan and third of the play-offs. Meanwhile, the Ottawa being shorthanded, before shifts to New York for a pair of Rick Nash were the only Rangers Boston pulled away in the Senators clawed their way back Greening’s goal cut the deficit in Eastern Conference contests with Game Three set for to beat Tuukka Rask, who was third with Marchand redirecting into their Eastern Conference the best-of-seven series to 2-1. In Boston today at Madison Square Garden. again outstanding in the Boston a goalmouth feed from Patrice semi-final series against Game Four is in Ottawa Boston 5 New York Rangers 2 “We expect them to come net facing 37 shots. Bergeron just 26 seconds into the Pittsburgh on Sunday, Colin tomorrow. (Boston lead series 2-0) harder than ever,” said Bruins Krug, one of three rookies frame while Lucic completed the Greening’s goal in double over- Sidney Crosby was coming off a In Ottawa forward Milan Lucic, looking pressed into duty on the Bruins’ rout. time giving them a 2-1 win over hat-trick that gave the Penguins ahead to the next game in New injury-hit blueline, notched his “I think all the pressure was the Penguins in Game Three. command in Game Two but he Ottawa 2 Pittsburgh 1 (2 OT) York. “We know MSG (Madison second goal in as many playoff on us and we had a great start,” After losing the first two games was held without a point yester- (Pittsburgh lead series 2-1) Square Garden) is going to be games to open the scoring before said Lucic. “We were able to get of the series and trailing 1-0 on day. AGENCIES Spurs thump Grizzlies in series opener

SAN ANTONIO, Texas: The title series against the Eastern San Antonio Spurs drained 14 Conference champions. three-pointers in a convinc- Reigning NBA title-holders ing 105-83 victory over the Miami host Indiana in game one Memphis Grizzlies in yester- of the Eastern Conference finals day’s opening game of the NBA’s tomorrow. Kawhi Leonard and Western Conference finals. Matt Bonner scored four three- Tony Parker scored 20 points pointers apiece as San Antonio and handed out nine assists for set a club record for three-point- the Spurs, whose stifling defense ers in a playoff game. held Grizzlies’ top scorer Zach Leonard finished with 18 points, Randolph to only two points. while Bonner scored 12 off the Randolph came in averaging bench and San Antonio handed 19.7 points per game in this post- Memphis their first double-digit season, but finished just 1-of-8 loss since game one of the first from the field for a Grizzlies team round against the Los Angeles appearing in the conference finals Clippers. for the first time. Tim Duncan scored six points St Louis Cardinals’ starting pitcher John Gast delivers a pitch to The Spurs, meanwhile, showed for the Spurs and pulled down a the Milwaukee Brewers in the second inning at Busch Stadium the poise to be expected from a game-high 10 rebounds. Quincy in St Louis, yesterday. team making their eighth appear- Pondexter led the Grizzlies with ance in a conference final in the 17 points, making five three- last 15 years. pointers. NBA Defensive Player But Parker, for one, was mind- of the Year Marc Gasol added 15 Rays’ Moore stops ful of the fact that last year and Mike Conley added 14, but the Spurs took a 2-0 lead over Memphis coach Lionel Hollins Oklahoma City in the Western said his team would have to do finals, only to lose the series to better. Orioles for 8-0 start the Thunder. “San Antonio played extremely “We still have a long way to well, and we did not,” he said. NEW YORK: Tampa go,” Parker said, adding that the The Grizzlies scored the Bay’s Matt Moore matched Baseball Results Spurs expected Randolph and the first basket of the game, but a 1917 start by Babe Ruth Grizzlies to bounce back in game San Antonio scored the next as he improved to a Major Cleveland 6 Seattle 0 two in San Antonio today. five to take a lead they never League-leading 8-0 in Miami 2 Arizona 1 “We tried to make it hard on relinquished. the Rays’ 3-1 victory over Tampa Bay 3 Baltimore 1 him, double team, obviously, their The Spurs led by 17 by the end the Baltimore Orioles Atlanta 5 LA Dodgers 2 best scorer,” Parker said of the of the first quarter and led by as yesterday. Philadelphia 3 Cincinnati 2 Spurs’ strategy against Randolph. many as 20 in the second before Moore tossed seven Pittsburgh 1 Houston 0 “He’s a beast inside. We know taking a 14-point lead into half- innings and allowed just Boston 5 Minnesota 1 he’s not going to play like that time. The Grizzlies produced a five hits and one run to stay every game. Sometimes it hap- 10-0 scoring run in the third as undefeated and win his ninth St Louis 4 Milwaukee 2 pens. It’s a long season, the play- they trimmed the deficit to six straight decision, setting a NY Mets 4 Chicago Cubs 3 offs are tough. points. Pondexter was the key Rays’ franchise record. LA Angels 6 Chicago White Sox 2 “So he had an off night, but contributor, making two of his The 23-year-old left- Oakland 4 Kansas City 3 I know he’s going to come out three-pointers in a spurt that hander’s start is the best by San Diego 13 Washington 4 strong in game two.” was capped by Jerryd Bayless’s a pitcher that young since Colorado 5 San Francisco 0 The winners of the best-of- dunk that made it 62-56 with 3:43 the 22-year-old Ruth went seven series advance to the NBA remaining in the third. AFP 8-0 in 1917. REUTERS Texas 11 Detroit 8 TUESDAY 21 MAY 2013 24 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT

Byron Nelson Championship Scores Bae wins maiden IRVING, Texas: Leading scores yesterday after the final round of the $6.7m US PGA Byron Nelson Championship (USA unless noted, par 70) 267 Bae Sang-Moon (KOR) 66-66-66-69 US PGA title 269 Keegan Bradley 60-69-68-72 270 Charl Schwartzel (RSA) 63-70-69-68 271 Justin Bolli 69-69-68-65 South Korean holds nerve in strong winds 272 Morgan Hoffmann 69-71-66-66, Martin Kaymer (GER) 68-67-69-68, IRVING, Texas: South Korea’s Nelson, was foiled in his bid to be Japan’s Ryo Ishikawa closed Scott Piercy 66-68-66-72 Bae Sang-Moon won his first US the event’s first wire-to-wire win- with a 67 to share 10th on 274 273 Charley Hoffman 68-68-70-67, John PGA title yesterday, firing a one- ner since Tom Watson in 1980. He with Canada’s Graham DeLaet. Huh 69-64-69-71 under par 69 to win the $6.7m led Bae by a stroke when the final Ishikawa’s best prior finish this 274 Ryo Ishikawa (JPN) 71-68-68-67, Byron Nelson Championship round began. season was a share of 38th last by two strokes over American “I’m disappointed but I’ll get month at the Masters. Graham DeLaet (CAN) 67-67-70-70 Keegan Bradley. over it,” Bradley said. “Moon Bae birdied the third hole to 275 Ricky Barnes 68-71-70-66, Marc In windy conditions at the TPC played really well. He’s a great move ahead by a stroke after Leishman (AUS) 66-70-69-70, Angel Four Seasons Resort course, the guy and very good player.” Bradley took a bogey, then the Cabrera (ARG) 65-69-70-71, D.A. 26-year-old South Korean fin- Bradley matched Bae for the Asian star birdied the par-3 fifth Points 69-68-67-71, Tom Gillis 69- ished on 13-under 267 to hold off lead at the par-4 15th hole by and sank a six-foot birdie putt 63-67-76 2011 PGA Championship winner sinking a 17-foot birdie putt while at the par-4 sixth, stretching his 276 Brendon Todd 69-68-72-67, Freddie Bradley, who shot 72, with 2011 the Korean saw his five-foot par lead to three strokes. Jacobson (SWE) 68-69-70-69, Masters winner Charl Schwartzel putt lip out. Bae missed a 34-foot eagle putt Charles Howell 67-69-70-70, Harris third on 270. Bae’s bogey opened the door for at the par-5 seventh but tapped in English 64-70-68-74 “This course was really tough,” South Africa’s Schwartzel, who from four feet for his third birdie 277 Colt Knost 68-70-71-68, Jason Bohn Bae said. “The winds were very sank a six-foot par putt seconds in a row and a four-stroke edge 71-68-69-69, John Rollins 74-64- stong but I did very well.” later at 17 to stay one behind the at 16-under. 70-69, Chez Reavie 69-67-71-70, Bae, who had won 11 prior leaders, but a bogey at the last At the ninth, Bae found the Justin Hicks 69-70-68-70, Jerry Kelly times worldwide but never in doomed Schwartzel’s title bid. water on his approach and took 69-70-66-72 a US tour event, made his first At the par-5 16th, Bae sank a a double bogey while Bradley appearance at the Byron Nelson six-foot birdie putt and Bradley escaped a greenside bunker and 278 Wes Short 68-71-71-68, Will Claxton a memorable one, becoming the lipped out on a four-foot birdie made a 15-foot par save to move 66-73-69-70, Brian Harman 68-69- US PGA’s first Asian-born winner bid, putting Bae back on top with within two strokes as the back- 70-71, Jimmy Walker 68-68-70-72, since American Kevin Na in 2011 two holes remaining. nine drama began. Ted Potter 64-70-70-74, Jason Day at Las Vegas. Bradley went over the green at Bae took a bogey at the 10th but (AUS) 72-68-66-72 “I’m very very happy. I had a the par-3 17th and took another Bradley stumbled with a bogey at great time,” Bae said. “I was a bogey to fall two strokes off the the 11th, missing a five-foot par little nervous but I did my best pace while Bae made clutch pars putt to boost Bae’s lead back to Mobile Bay LPGA today.” on the final two holes to secure two strokes. Bae, who won the Japan Tour the triumph. Bradley made up-and-down Classic Scores money title in 2011, tapped in a American Justin Bolli was pars at 13 and 14 to stay on the MOBILE, Alabama: Leading four-footer for par at the 18th to fourth on 271, one stroke ahead heels of Bae but was matched scores yesterday after the final seal the victory, raised his arms of Germany’s Martin Kaymer and for second on 11-under when and looked skyward with a big Americans Morgan Hoffmann Schwartzel made a 10-foot birdie round of the Mobile Bay LPGA smile. and Scott Piercy with Americans putt at the 16th, setting the stage Bae Sang-Moon of South Korea celebrates with the championship trophy Classic (USA unless noted, par Bradley, who won his first John Huh and Charley Hoffman for the final tense holes. after winning the 2013 HP Byron Nelson Championship at the TPC Four 72): US PGA title at the 2011 Byron on 273. AFP Seasons Resort in Irving, Texas, yesterday. 267 Jennifer Johnson 67-70-65-65 268 Pornanong Phatlum (THA) 69-65-71- World Rankings 63, Jessica Korda 66-65-69-68 269 Shin Jiyai (KOR) 72-66-68-63, Ariya World rankings yesterday (US Johnson triumphs in Alabama Jutanugarn (THA) 69-66-69-65, unless stated, last week’s posi- Karrie Webb (AUS) 69-63-69-68, tions in brackets): MOBILE, Alabama: Anna Nordqvist (SWE) 73-66-61-69, 1. (1) Tiger Woods 13.53 American had 10 birdies, including three “Oh, yeah, I was definitely Jennifer Johnson fired a seven- in a row to end her round. She aware,” Johnson said. “Before I hit Chella Choi (KOR) 67-66-66-70 2. (2) Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland) 10.23 under par 65 yesterday to was joined on 268 by Korda, who my birdie putt on 17, I saw that 270 Stacy Lewis 70-70-63-67 3. (3) Adam Scott (Australia) 7.72 seize her first LPGA title, started the day one off the lead Pornanong was tied with me at 271 Seo Hee-Kyung (KOR) 68-68-70-65, 4. (4) Justin Rose (England) 6.47 posting a one-shot victory and had seven birdies in a four- 20 and I didn’t want a playoff so Lexi Thompson 65-70-69-67 5. (5) Brandt Snedeker 6.33 over Pornanong Phatlum and under 68. I was like, I’m going to make this 272 Beatriz Recari (ESP) 68-70-68-66 6. (6) Luke Donald (England) 6.25 Jessica Korda at the Mobile Overnight leader Chella Choi of thing.” Bay Classic. South Korea carded a 70 to finish Johnson had to wait for the 7. (8) Graeme McDowell (Northern Ireland) 274 Mo Martin 70-69-71-64, Azahara Johnson had eight birdies and in a group of five players sharing final two groups to finish to be 5.90 Munoz (ESP) 71-64-73-66, Thidapa just one bogey on the par-72 fourth place on 269. sure she’d done enough, and said Suwannapura (THA) 67-67-72-68, 8. (7) Louis Oosthuizen (South Africa) 5.66 Crossings course at Magnolia She was joined by compatriot she’d try to take time to enjoy the Mariajo Uribe (COL) 70-67-68-69, Ji 9. (10) Phil Mickelson 5.26 Grove for a 21-under par total of Shin Jiyai (63), Australian Hall victory. Eun-Hee (KOR) 65-72-67-70, Sydnee 10. (9) Steve Stricker 5.22 267. of Famer Karrie Webb (68), Thai “I’ll try to, but I’m always look- Michaels 72-62-69-71 “I’m a little shocked, I didn’t teenager Ariya Jutanugarn (65) ing ahead,” she said. 11. (14) Keegan Bradley 5.15 275 Lisa McCloskey 69-68-71-67 12. (11) Lee Westwood (England) 5.12 even realize I shot 65,” said the and Sweden’s Anna Nordqvist “I’ve got to try and relax more. 21-year-old, whose previous best (69). It means a lot. Since I played 276 Julieta Granada (PAR) 69-70-67-70, 13. (12) Matt Kuchar 5.08 finish was a tie for eighth at At the turn, Johnson was one my first tournament, I was nine, Nicole Castrale 67-69-68-72 14. (13) Sergio Garcia (Spain) 4.91 Prattville, Alabama, in 2011. stroke behind Korda. She said and when I was about 12 or 13 277 Yoo Sun-Young (KOR) 73-69-68-67, 15. (17) Charl Schwartzel (South Africa) Her total of 267 bettered the she began thinking seriously that I wanted to play on the LPGA. Angela Stanford 71-68-71-67, Chie 4.90 tournament’s scoring record by she had a chance to win when she So like nine years, this is kind of Jennifer Johnson poses with the Arimura (JPN) 72-72-65-68, Karine 16. (16) Webb Simpson 4.68 four strokes. sank a 15-foot birdie putt at the what I’ve worked for.” trophy after winning the Mobile Icher (FRA) 73-68-68-68, Katie 17. (15) Ian Poulter (England) 4.67 Thailand’s Pornanong climbed 17th to get to 21-under. Stacy Lewis, who set the previ- Burnett 73-68-67-69, Mina Harigae Bay LPGA Classic at the Crossings up the leaderboard to seize her Even before she made that putt, ous tournament scoring record of 18. (18) Bubba Watson 4.64 67-68-73-69, Meena Lee (KOR) 70- Course at the Robert Trent Jones share of second place with a nine- she had seen that Pornanong, 271 in winning last year, carded a 71-65-71, Park Hee-Young (KOR) 67- 19. (19) Dustin Johnson 4.41 Trail at Magnolia Grove in Mobile, under par 63. After opening with playing several groups ahead of final-round 67 to finish alone in 71-68-71 20. (20) Jason Dufner 4.26 Alabama, yesterday. a bogey at the par-four first she her, had reached 20-under. ninth on 270. AFP

Pistorius rules out running Badminton: Taiwan thrash this year Germany to reach quarters JOHANNESBURG: Murder- KUALA LUMPUR: Underdogs take on Thailand to decide who accused South African sprinter Sudirman Cup Taiwan thrashed European tops in their groups. Oscar Pistorius will not race this champions Germany 5-0 to The top two teams in each group season, his agent said yesterday, Results top Group C of the Sudirman qualify for the quarter-finals. weeks before the Paralympian’s KUALA LUMPUR: Results Cup yesterday and sail into the Indonesia team manager Rexy of the group games of the return to court. quarter-finals. Mainaky, a former world and Sudirman Cup tournament in The decision means Pistorius Kuala Lumpur yesterday: Former champions Indonesia Olympic champion, tipped the will miss out on the August 10-18 Group A also reached the quarter-finals Chinese to win their fifth consec- World Athletics Championships Indonesia bt India 4-1 with a comprehensive 4-1 victory utive Sudirman Cup, but believed in Moscow. over India in Group A. that his team could still upset the Men’s singles: Kashyap Parupalli (IND) bt “He’s decided he’s not going onto Dionysius Hayom Rumbaka (INA) 21-18, 21-14 Defending champions China, top seeds. the track again and have a go at Women’s singles: Lindaweni Fanetri (INA) bt Denmark, Japan, South Korea The 1996 Atlanta Olympic any competitions or anything for P.V. Sindhu (IND) 21-15, 21-10 and Thailand make up the other men’s doubles gold medalist the rest of this year,” Peet van Zyl Men’s doubles: Angga Pratama-Rian Agung five quarter-final contenders has won all the major trophies said. Pistorius had to focus on the Saputro (INA) bt Akshay Dewalkar-Pranaav with just one last space left -- for in badminton except one -- the upcoming court case and was not Jerry Chopra (IND) 21-13, 21-10 either Germany or Malaysia. Sudirman Cup. physically and mentally ready to Women’s doubles: Greysia Polii-Nitya Japan crushed Singapore 5-0 in China thrashed India 5-0 on compete at top level, the agent said. Krishinda Maheswari (INA) bt Ashwini Group D, a result that ensured Sunday, but the defending cham- “It was only going to be a case Ponnappa-Pradnya Gadre (IND) 21-19, 22-20 Denmark also qualified from the pions were given a tough workout. of if and when Oscar feels he’s Mixed doubles: Tontowi Ahmad-Liliyana group as the Singaporeans were Mainaky said he had expected ready to train and compete and Natsir (INA) bt Arun Vishnu-Aparna Balan eliminated. Meanwhile, South to beat India and was pleased with he’s obviously not mentally and (IND) 21-13, 21-14 Korea beat Hong Kong 4-1 in his players, especially women’s physically ready for that,” he said. Group D Group B. singles Lindaweni Fanetri, as she The double amputee, known as Japan bt Singapore 5-0 But the day’s biggest surprise kept calm to defeat P V Sindhu. the “Blade Runner” for his trade- Men’s singles: Takuma Ueda (JPN) bt Derek was Taiwan, who already upset He admitted world number two mark artificial limbs, returns to Wong (SIN) 21-18, 13-21, 21-15 hosts Malaysia 3-2 on Sunday. Saina Nehwal’s absence through court on June 4 charged with Women’s singles: Minatsu Mitani (JPN) bt The Taiwanese finished all but injury from the India team made gunning down his girlfriend on Juan Gu (SIN) 21-10, 21-19 two matches in two games, stun- it easier for her. Valentine’s Day. Men’s doubles: Hiroyuki Endo-Kenichi ning the Europeans. Meanwhile, Kashyap Parupalli Van Zyl said he had cancelled Hayakawa (JPN) bt Danny Bawa Chrisnanta- Germany will take on Malaysia who defeated Dionysius Hayom all of the champion Paralympian’s Terry Yeo (SIN) 21-7, 21-18 today to decide who will follow the Rumbaka for India’s lone point events immediately after the Women’s doubles: Misaki Matsutomo- Taiwanese into the quarter-finals said losing Nehwal had been a shooting of Reeva Steenkamp. Sayaka Takahashi (JPN) bt Lei Yao-Shinta to take up the final place there. big blow. “That was up until July and we Mulia Sari (SIN) 21-9, 21-15 Indonesia will meet eight-time “If she was in the team, I think haven’t even contemplated look- Rumbaka Dionysius Hayom of Indonesia jumps for a smash against Mixed doubles: Hirokatsu Hashimoto-Miyuki champions China today to decide we could have stolen a point today ing at any other sort of competi- Parupalli Kashyap of India during their match at the 2013 Sudirman Cup Maeda (JPN) bt Danny Bawa Chrisnanta- the Group A winner, while Japan and that would have lifted our tion since then,” he added. AFP world mixed team badminton championships in Kuala Lumpur, yesterday Vanessa Neo (SIN) 16-21, 21-12, 21-19 play Denmark and South Korea players’ spirits,” he said. AFP TUESDAY 21 MAY 2013 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 25

Qatar’s Al Neama, Al Qatar’s Eljaish, Al Gharafa Nasser finish fifth in Florida

COCOA BEACH, Florida: Spirit of Qatar’s Ali Al Neama eye last eight spot in ACL and Mohammed Al Nasser fin- ished a solid fifth overall in the Superboat class at the Space Coast Super Boat Grand Prix in Lucescu’s side takes on Al Ahli in Sharayea; Al Gharafa face Al Shabab Cocoa Beach, Florida, yesterday. Racing for the first time at the helm of Spirit of Qatar 20 – the DOHA: Qatar Stars League affect their players,” he added. ex Reliable Carriers MTI catama- (QSL) clubs Eljaish and Al “Hopefully we can take advan- ran – the pair lined up alongside Gharafa will look to win their tage of this and get a positive Sebastian WHM Motorsports, Team CRC, matches of the AFC Champions result.” Tagliabue Team Stihl, Warpaint and JD League to book their spot in the In addition to fatigue, Al Ahli (left) of Al Byrider in the Superboat class. AFC Champions League last also have to contend with inju- Shabab Blustery conditions and break- eight ries to key players with forwards challenges ing waves were prevalent as the In the Round of 16 second Amad Al Hosni and Bader Al Al Gharafa’s Superboats joined the Superboat leg matches today Eljaish take Khamis both doubtful after being Nene during Unlimited, Turbine and Superboat on Saudi Arabia’s Al Ahli in taken off injured during the first their Round Extreme entrants for a combined Sharayea, while in Riyadh, Al leg. Al Ahli beat Al Shabab 1-0 in 16 first leg set of races over 16 and 13 laps of Gharafa face another Saudi side the first leg of their King’s Cup match of the offshore course. Al Shabab. semi-final but coach Aleksander the AFC WHM Motorsports’ William With his team well rested and Ilic expects a much tougher out- Champions Mauff and Jay Muller emerged as fully focussed on the task at hand, ing for his side in today’s second League in comfortable winners by the mar- Eljaish coach Razvan Lucescu is leg. Doha in this gin of 29 seconds in the Superboat confident that the Qatari debu- “The match is very hard and class from Tony Marcantonio and file picture tants can get the result they need we are currently in the toughest Mark Kowalski at the helm of JD of May 15, when they face Al Ahli. stage,” said the Serbian. Byrider. The latter crew managed The Saudi club appear to have “We respect Eljaish who are a 2013. The to pass Team Stihl in the closing a slight edge in the tie after the good team and I hope that we can two teams stages after the pre-race Superboat teams drew 1-1 in the first leg do well and put in a strong per- will clash in category leaders had held second at Al Rayyan Stadium last week formance against them in such a the second position through the early laps. as Anderson Martins got a late difficult match leg match Team CRC finished fourth and equaliser for the hosts after “We will try our best to over- in Riyadh Spirit of Qatar moved up to fifth Motaz Al Musa had put Al Ahli come the circumstances that hit today. when Warpaint hit trouble late on. ahead on the stroke of half-time. us before the match and hopefully WHM Motorsports now leads the Al Musa’s away goal means we have a good performance. I Superboat Championship after two that Al Ahli will advance to the promise our fans that we will do races. quarter-finals if they prevent El our best in order to advance to the “It was important that Ali and Jaish from scoring in the return next round of the competition.” AFC Champions Mohammed got as much seat time match at the King Abdulaziz Meanwhile, Al Shabab coach in the new boat as possible and fin- Sport Centre in Sharayea. Michel Preud’homme remains League Fixtures Home advantage ished the first race,” said HSheikh However, Lucescu feels that wary of his team’s Round of 16 Hassan bin Jabor Al Thani, presi- SINGAPORE: AFC there is far more pressure on opponents Al Gharafa but he is dent of the Qatar Marine Sports Champions League round of the Saudi side, who are looking confident that his players can Federation (QMSF), who hopes 16, second leg fixtures to be to improve on their performance get the job done against the to begin his own Super Boat played this week: for Guangzhou of last year when they reached Qatari club today and advance International campaign with throt- the final, only to be beaten 3-0 by to the quarter-finals of the AFC Playing Today SINGAPORE: Marcello Lippi’s coaching haul of one World Cup, tleman Steve Curtis at the next Korea’s Ulsan Hyundai. Champions League. In Seoul Guangzhou Evergrande will one UEFA Champions League round at the start of June. “This is the first time that we The Saudi club are in good FC Seoul (KOR) vs Beijing Guoan (CHN) look to sweep aside the chal- trophy and five Serie A titles with THE PENINSULA take part in the competition and shape to reach the last eight for (1030 GMT) lenge of Central Coast Mariners Juventus. I believe reaching the Round of the first time since 2010 after In Tashkent and book their spot in the AFC “There’s no hiding the fact ATP World Tour 16 is a big achievement for us,” coming from a goal down to beat Bunyodkor (UZB) vs Buriram United (THA) Champions League last eight for that it’s going to be tough, but said the Romanian, who arrived Al Gharafa 2-1 in Doha last week. (1400 GMT) the second year running this they are at home and they’ve Rankings with his team in Saudi Arabia on With the two away goals in In Sharayea week. got all the pressure on them Sunday. hand, they will progress if they Al Ahli (KSA) vs Eljaish (QAT) (1745 GMT) The Chinese domestic double- -- they’re expected to win ATP World Tour rankings yes- “We don’t have a lot of pressure avoid losing and conceding more winners hold a 2-1 advantage from the AFC Champions League,” In Riyadh terday (last week’s positions in unlike our opponents who reached than two goals at the King Fahd last week’s round of 16 first leg, said Mariners coach Graham brackets): the final last year and would like International Stadium. Al Shabab (KSA) vs Al Gharafa (QAT) (1750 when goals from Lucas Barrios Arnold. 1. (1) Novak Djokovic (Serbia) 12310 to put in a good performance.” But despite his side’s strong GMT) and Muriqui secured a stylish “We’ve got to go out and put in Lucescu feels that his team position, Preud’homme is keen to Playing Tomorrow win at the Mariners’ ground in our best performance. We’re 90 2. (2) Andy Murray (Scotland) 8670 also have an added advantage guard against complacency ahead In Kashiwa Gosford, Australia. minutes away from reaching the 3. (3) Roger Federer (Switzerland) 8000 as they had the weekend off of the return match. Kashiwa Reysol (JPN) vs Jeonbuk Hyundai Attractive, free-flowing foot- last eight in Asia and that’s the following their semi-final exit “In the first leg we enjoyed a Motors (KOR) (1000 GMT) ball, inspired by their South way we’ve got to look at it,” he 4. (5) Rafa Nadal (Spain) 6895 from the Emir’s Cup on May good performance and got a great In Guangzhou American attack, has made added, according to a club press 5. (4) David Ferrer (Spain) 6740 11 while Al Ahli were involved result,” said the Belgian, who saw Guangzhou Evergrande (CHN) vs Central well-heeled Guangzhou -- the release. 6. (6) Tomas Berdych (Czech Republic) 4700 in a hard-fought King’s Cup his side beaten 1-0 in the first leg Coast Mariners (AUS) (1200 GMT) “Manchester United of Asia”, Guangzhou, who reached the semi-final against Al Shabab of their King’s Cup semi-final according to Mariners assistant quarter-finals on debut last year, 7. (7) Juan Martin Del Potro (Argentina) In Doha on Saturday. against Al Ahli last Saturday. coach Phil Moss -- many people’s warmed up with a 4-1 win on 4320 Lekhwiya (QAT) vs Al Hilal (KSA) (1530 “We will try our best to per- “But in football everything is favourites for the title. Saturday over Liaoning Whowin GMT) 8. (8) Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (France) 3795 form well tomorrow as we got possible so we should respect our But tomorrow, the Mariners -- China’s last Asian champions, 9. (9) Richard Gasquet (France) 3090 good rest before the match while opponents and give our best in In Tehran will do their utmost to deny the in 1990 -- while the Mariners are Al Ahli had to play an important the match tomorrow if we want Esteghlal (IRI) vs Al Shabab Al Arabi (UAE) Chinese team and dash Lippi’s in post-season after claiming the 10. (11) Janko Tipsarevic (Serbia) 2640 (1630 GMT) match last Saturday which could to advance. THE PENINSULA hopes of adding to his career Australian title in April. AFP 11. (10) Stanislas Wawrinka (Switzerland) 2630 12. (13) Marin Cilic (Croatia) 2570 13. (12) Nicolas Almagro (Spain) 2490 Record-tying 14. (14) Tommy Haas (Germany) 2340 Lowe reunited with 15. (15) Kei Nishikori (Japan) 2315 four women 16. (16) Milos Raonic (Canada) 2225 to start at 17. (17) Gilles Simon (France) 1940 Hamilton at Mercedes 18. (22) Philipp Kohlschreiber 1750 Indianapolis 19. (18) Juan Monaco (Argentina) 1750 LONDON: Lewis Hamilton will “I am delighted to welcome it a quintet on a Mercedes pay- 20. (19) Sam Querrey (United States) 1730 INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana: be reunited with Paddy Lowe Paddy to the team and to begin roll that also includes outspoken Britain’s Katherine Legge (pic- sooner than expected after working together. He has an former champion Niki Lauda WTA Rankings tured) and Pippa Mann and Mercedes announced yeser- excellent record of success in the as non-executive chairman and Brazilian Ana Beatriz joined day that the former McLaren sport and would be an asset to shareholder. WTA rankings yesterday (last the Indianapolis 500 starting technical head was joining their any of our rivals in the pit lane,” “The team has already pro- week’s positions in brackets): grid yesterday to match a race Formula One team next month. said Brawn. duced probably the fastest car of 1. (1) Serena Williams (United States) 11620 record four women starters in Mercedes said in a state- “It is no secret that every team the 2013 season while the techni- this year’s field. ment that the Briton had been is facing a significant balancing cal challenges of the new regu- 2. (2) Maria Sharapova (Russia) 10015 The trio joined Swiss racer appointed executive director act between this year and next. lations for 2014 will give us the 3. (3) Victoria Azarenka (Belarus) 9005 Simona de Silvestro, who qualified (technical) and would start on But it is perhaps less obvious that opportunity to maximise the syn- 4. (4) Agnieszka Radwanska (Poland) 6475 earlier, to match the mark from June 3 - the week of the Canadian we will also see major changes ergies available to a works manu- 2010 and 2011 for female drivers Grand Prix - after agreement was for the 2015 and 2016 seasons, as facturer,” said Lowe in the team 5. (6) Sara Errani (Italy) 5835 in Indy’s 33-car field. They were reached with McLaren for him to development progresses with the statement. 6. (5) Li Na (China) 5335 among nine qualifiers in yester- be released from the remaining new generation of car design and “That is a challenge I am rel- 7. (8) Petra Kvitova (Czech Republic) 5175 day’s final day of time trials. seven months of his contract. Power Unit,” he added. ishing. I have worked closely with The 97th Indy 500 will be staged Lowe will work closely with “To deliver in these circum- Mercedes-Benz for almost 20 8. (7) Angelique Kerber (Germany) 5135 next Sunday over the famed 2 1/2- first eight rows on the starting team principal Ross Brawn, the stances, a successful team needs years and deeply admire the com- 9. (10) Samantha Stosur (Australia) 3645 mile (4km) Indianapolis Motor grid. man he could one day replace, strength in depth. Paddy’s pany’s phenomenal commitment 10. (9) Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark) 3625 Speedway oval. The final nine spots over the who retains overall responsibil- arrival will further strengthen to Formula One. I look forward Legge had the slowest qualify- three back rows were filled ity for technical and sporting our organisation and puts us in to much success together in the 11. (11) Nadia Petrova (Russia) 3065 ing speed after a four-lap qualify- shortly after the speedway matters. a strong position for the future.” years ahead.” 12. (12) Maria Kirilenko (Russia) 3036 ing average yesterday of 223.176 opened Sunday, led by American McLaren had already put Lowe The rules are changing signifi- Mercedes have been on pole mph. She only signed a deal on Josef Newgarden, who booked the on ‘gardening leave’, removing cantly next year, with a new 1.6 position for the last three races 13. (14) Marion Bartoli (France) 2845 Saturday to make a run at an inside of the ninth row with an him from sensitive work, with litre turbocharged V6 engine with but have had problems managing 14. (13) Ana Ivanovic (Serbia) 2800 Indy start for the second year in average speed of 225.731 mph. Tim Goss being promoted to the energy recovery systems replac- the tyres and have faded on the 15. (15) Roberta Vinci (Italy) 2785 a row. American Graham Rahal and role of technical director. They ing the current 2.4 litre V8 units. Sunday, with Hamilton slipping Mexico’s Michel Jourdain, the Colombia’s Sebastian Saavedra announced last week that they Mercedes already have a long from second on the grid to 12th 16. (16) Dominika Cibulkova (Slovakia) 2590 only driver who failed to make the completed row nine with would switch from Mercedes list of former team technical at the last race in Spain. 17. (17) Sloane Stephens (United States) field, never approached practice Frenchman Tristan Vautier on engines to Honda in 2015. directors working for them, while Hamilton and German team 2540 speeds fast enough to threaten the inside of row 10 alongside Lowe’s arrival at Mercedes, Toto Wolff is executive director for mate Nico Rosberg will however 18. (18) Jelena Jankovic (Serbia) 2500 Legge’s mark, unable to bump Beatriz with Mann on the outside. who signed 2008 world cham- business and head of Mercedes’ be among the favourites at this his way into the field before the American Conor Daly and pion Hamilton last year, had motorsport programme. weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix, 19. (19) Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (Russia) qualifying session concluded. countryman Buddy Lazier, the been flagged up since January Brawn, Bob Bell, Geoff Willis where overtaking is tricky and 2010 American Ed Carpenter won 1996 Indy 500 winner, were on the when reports indicated that he and Aldo Costa were all pre- the driver starting on pole has a 20. (22) Carla Suarez Navarro (Czech pole position on Saturday to lead last row with Legge claiming the was being lined up as Brawn’s viously technical directors at considerable advantage. Republic) 1975 24 drivers in securing spots in the outside spot. AFP replacement. other teams and Lowe makes REUTERS TUESDAY 21 MAY 2013 26 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT Barcelona stay on course to reach target after win The Catalans beat Valladolid 2-1; Deportivo move out of relegation zone

MADRID: Barcelona cele- Valdes and Javier Mascherano Mourinho to brated lifting the La Liga tro- returning after a number of phy for a 22nd time with a 2-1 weeks out through injury. win over Valladolid on Sunday However, given the stormy con- leave Real at a rain-lashed Camp Nou. ditions and general lack of atmos- The wet conditions resulted in phere, it took some time for Barca the lowest attendance for a Barca to get going. at end of home league match this season as They did manage to make the only 56,055 filled the 99,354 capac- breakthrough with virtually their season ity ground. first clear opening on 20 minutes However, first-half goals from though as Xavi recovered posses- MADRID: Real Madrid and Pedro Rodriguez and into his own sion in midfield and surged for- Jose Mourinho (pictured) net from Marc Valiente were ward before feeding Pedro and have agreed the Portuguese enough to keep the champions his low shot slipped under Jaime coach will leave the La Liga on track to match Real Madrid’s Jimenez who ought to have done club at the end of the sea- league record of 100 points before better to keep it out. son, three years before the Victor Perez’s penalty halved the Oscar Gonzalez then wasted a end of his contract, presi- deficit a minute from time. decent opening to get the visitors dent Florentino Perez said And afterwards club captain back into the game at the other yesterday. Carles Puyol left it to manager end, but he dribbled a disappoint- “After the talks with our Tito Vilanova and Eric Abidal, ing effort into Valdes’ arms from coach Jose Mourinho we have who have missed large parts of range when he seemed to have a reached the agreement to end the season due to a cancerous clear run on goal. the contractual relationship at saliva gland and a liver transplant Andres Iniesta saw a deflected the end of this season,” Perez respectively, to lift the trophy as a effort loop just over as Barca said at a news conference at reward for all the health problems began to up the tempo with Real’s Bernabeu stadium. they have had to overcome off the their short passing game before “Both the club and the coach field this season. the break, but their second goal Barcelona’s coach Tito Vilanova (left) and player Eric Abidal (right) lift the Spanish league title trophy during agree that it is the right moment “It has been a difficult year, but arrived in somewhat fortunate celebrations at Camp Nou Stadium in Barcelona, late on Sunday. Barcelona moved a step closer to matching to end this relationship.” we have won the league and the circumstances as the wet condi- Real Madrid’s La Liga record of 100 points with a 2-1 win over Real Valladolid, that was the prelude to a title He also added that a replace- best thing is that Tito and Abidal tions contributed to Valiente slic- party at the Nou Camp. ment for Mourinho had not are with us,” said Puyol. ing Xavi’s corner into his own net. been lined up. “I want to thank you all for Xavi tested Jaime with a low “We have not agreed any pre- your confidence and support skidding effort that the keeper whereas, Pedro failed to hit the Perez converted the resulting third relegation place after they contract with any coach. That in the good and bad moments,” handled well with the first effort target with another guilt-edged penalty. conceded two late goals to lose 2-1 is a job for the next few days,” added Vilanova as he addressed of the second period and Pedro opportunity nine minutes from At the bottom of the league to Athletic Bilbao. added Perez. the crowd. really ought to have registered time. standings, there was a huge win Manolo Jimenez’s men are now The former Chelsea coach “Without the fans all this his second of the evening when he Valladolid were handed a con- for Deportivo La Coruna as goals a point behind Deportivo with just has been touted as a possible wouldn’t have any meaning.” blasted over from Cesc Fabregas’ solation in the 89th minute of from Bruno Gama and Nelson two games remaining. replacement for Rafa Benitez, Given the injuries to Lionel cut-back just after the hour mark. the match when with practically Oliveira saw them beat Espanyol And earlier on Sunday, Rayo who announced he will leave Messi and Dani Alves, Vilanova Jaime then made fine saves their first attack of the second- 2-0 to move out of the relegation Vallecano beat Levante 3-2 in an when his contract finishes this sent out about as strong a start- from Martin Montoya and David half Montoya brought down zone. entertaining encounter to move summer. REUTERS ing line-up as he could with Victor Villa to keep the score down, Manucho inside the area and Real Zaragoza now occupy the into eighth. AFP Napoli president PSG block Ancelotti’s to meet Benitez, say reports

Real Madrid switch MILAN: Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis was PARIS: Carlo Ancelotti, who in London yesterday to meet wants to quit Paris Saint- Rafael Benitez in a bid to lure Germain and succeed Jose Chelsea’s Spanish manager to Mourinho at Real Madrid, the Serie A club, according to found his escape route blocked reports in Italy. by the French champions’ Napoli’s runner-up place to Qatari owners on Sunday. Juventus was confirmed when the Ancelotti has been tipped to season ended on Sunday, meaning replace Mourinho at Real in the the Neapolitans have qualified for summer with the Portuguese next season’s Champions League. expected to return to Chelsea Napoli’s need to find a new and the Italian coach made clear coach is pressing as Walter AC Milan’s players celebrate their victory over Siena 2-1 at the end of his desire to go to Spain despite Mazzarri confirmed on Sunday the Italian Serie A football match at the Artemio Franchi Stadium in having one more year left on his his departure from the club. Siena on Sunday. PSG contract. “My cycle at Napoli has come to “My wish is to leave the club,” an end. I need a change of scene,” said the 53-year-old after meeting Mazzarri, who has been tipped PSG president Nasser Al Khelaifi. to replace Aurelio Andreazzoli Mexes saves Milan’s “I have asked to leave. We are at Roma, said after Napoli’s 2-1 going to wait for a response from defeat to the Giallorossi. the club who are going to take a Several reports in Italy said few days to decide.” De Laurentiis was accompanied Champions League bid But Al Khelaifi insisted that Paris Saint-Germain’s (PSG) Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti (centre) speaks by the club’s sporting director Ancelotti, who this season led with PSG Brazilian defender and captain Thiago Silva (left) in front of Riccardo Bigon and another offi- ROME: Frenchman Phillipe CEO Adriano Galliani that his job PSG to a first title since 1994, is PSG Italian goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu (second left) and PSG Swedish cial, Andrea Chiavelli, on the trip. Mexes scored a late winner for at the San Siro is safe. going nowhere. forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic (right) during the French TV show “Canal Former Liverpool manager AC Milan in a 2-1 comeback “Massimiliano Allegri can rest “He said that he wanted to Football Club” yesterday in Paris, as part of the 21st edition of the UNFP Benitez has already coached victory at Siena on Sunday assured: in the past two years leave for Real Madrid. I said it’s (French National Professional Football players Union) trophy ceremony. in Italy, taking over from Jose which saved the Serie A giants’ he’s collected more points than not possible because he has a Mourinho after the Portuguese chances of appearing in next Juventus,” said Galliani. contract for another year -- that led Inter Milan to a treble of season’s Champions League. Fiorentina were Milan’s sole is our decision,” Al Khelaifi told Real Madrid is one. But I have a replace Mourinho at Real when league, Cup and Champions Milan were facing a fourth- rivals for third spot, which offers www.beinsport.fr. contract here and I am waiting this season finishes had been League. place finish after falling behind to qualification for the competition “It’s his problem, not ours. We for the club to decide.” gathering pace. After signing a two-year deal, a 25th minute goal from Claudio via a preliminary round. have even offered him another Leonardo confirmed that Those were only enhanced on Benitez steered the Nerazzurri to Terzi. But despite Adem Ljajic scor- year on his contract. When you Ancelotti had asked to leave. Sunday morning when several victory in the Italian Super Cup However, after spurning several ing a hat-trick in a 5-1 win have a contract, you are usually “What happened was that Spanish newspapers claimed and Club World Cup but a run of chances throughout the match in over already-relegated Pescara, obliged to honour it.” Carlo has asked to leave for Real the Portuguese boss would leave poor results in the league left his which both sides finished with 10 it wasn’t enough to push the Ancelotti confirmed he had Madrid but we want to keep him,” before the end of the current position fragile and after seeing men, the seven-time European Florence-based side up to third. met Al Khelaifi and PSG sport- he said. “He has another year on campaign. his request for new players turned champions were given a lifeline Fiorentina finish fourth, two ing director Leonardo and was his contract. No decision has been Ancelotti’s first six months at down he was eventually sacked in when Mario Balotelli levelled points adrift of Milan, and earn expecting a response to his made.” PSG were largely disappointing December. from the spot in the 84th minute an automatic Europa League request within a few days. Former Chelsea and AC Milan as he took over a team at the top Benitez took over at Chelsea after being fouled in the box. place, in which they will be joined “We met with the president coach Ancelotti has spent just 18 of Ligue 1, only to see them over- and led the defending Champions Mexes, one of two defenders by Udinese following the north- and with Leo. We’ll have to wait months in the French capital. hauled by Montpellier to miss out League winners to victory in the at fault when Terzi was allowed erners’ superb 5-2 away win at a few days. There are possibilities. But rumours that he is set to on the title. AFP Europa League final. AFP space to head home his opener, Inter Milan. then bundled the ball home from Asked if the team were bit- close range after seeing his initial ter, Fiorentina coach Vincenzo effort blocked. Montella said: “No, we shouldn’t Lampard would welcome Mourinho reunion Milan finished third on 72 be feeling that. We will be going points behind second-placed on holiday feeling proud of what LONDON: Chelsea midfielder Frank seems only a matter of time. Lampard, who “As a team he sets you up brilliantly. But Napoli (78) and recently-crowned we’ve achieved this season.” Lampard yesterday admitted he would recently signed a new one-year contract after what he does is he gets the best out of play- champions Juventus, the latter Inter’s European hopes faded love to work with Jose Mourinho again as becoming Chelsea’s all-time leading scorer, ers and gets this togetherness that I’d never two qualifying automatically for a month ago after injuries and a reports continue to link the Real Madrid remains a big admirer of Mourinho and asked known until he came to the club and I haven’t the Champions League. series of consequent setbacks left manager with a return to Stamford Bridge. what makes his former boss so successful, the seen it again since then. Milan coach Massimiliano Andrea Stramaccioni’s team out Lampard credits Mourinho with giving him England international told TalkSPORT: “It’s a “He might rub people up the wrong way. Allegri’s job was reportedly in of the running for the European the belief to become a world-class performer presence and an aura and a way with people. But as a manager, he’s brilliant with his team jeopardy if the former European places. during their time together at Chelsea between “He galvanises people. His own self-con- tactically, he’s brilliant with individuals and I giants failed to clinch a third- Lazio, likewise, finished the 2004 and 2007. fidence reflects back on his teams. He did think he’s brilliant with the press. I know it place finish. season on a low note after suc- Real have already had an approach rejected that to me personally. Tactically he’s fantas- creates a storm but he does protect his play- Although Allegri has been cumbing to a 75th minute goal for Carlo Ancelotti, and Mourinho’s exit tic. He’s very astute. ers.” AFP linked with a move to Roma, he from Cagliari’s Daniele Dessena. was given an indication by club AFP TUESDAY 21 MAY 2013 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 27 Zhang retains world title China’s Yue, Xiaoxia clinch gold medal in the doubles event in Paris

PARIS: Defending champion an event in which Zhang did not his head-to-head record against Zhang Jike of China retained his take part. Wang to 8-3. men’s singles title at the World Having raced into a two games “For me there is no loser, the Table Tennis Championships in to love lead in the French capital, most important thing was to Guan to play Paris yesterday after defeating Zhang was pegged back by Wang enjoy the match and I did that,” compatriot Wang Hao in the in game three and the contest Zhang continued, paying tribute final. appeared to be heading for two-all to his opponent. at Memorial Fourth seed Zhang prevailed only for Zhang to fight off four set “I’ve been in Paris twice (the 11-7, 11-8, 6-11, 14-12, 5-11, 11-7 in points in the fourth frame to re- 2011 World Cup being the other). a rematch of last year’s Olympic establish a two-game advantage. Both times I’ve won the final so next week final to secure a fourth major title Wang, the 2009 champion, then I really love it here,” added the in a row. took the following game to pre- 25-year-old, who said his next DUBLIN, OHIO: Chinese Zhang completed a career serve his title hopes but it proved goal was to win all three major schoolboy Guan Tianlang (pic- grand slam when he pipped Wang to be merely a stay of execution as titles again. tured), the youngest player in to the Olympic crown in London Zhang wrapped things up in game Despite coming up short Masters history, will continue last August, adding to the world six at the first time of asking. against Zhang yet again, beaten his dream run in US PGA title he won two years ago in “It was a very closely-fought finalist Wang was not too down- events by playing in next week’s Rotterdam and the 2011 World match, we both played well,” hearted by the loss. Memorial tournament, organis- Cup, with Wang also the losing Zhang said afterwards, his domi- “I’m actually not really disap- ers said yesterday. finalist on both of those occasions. nance over Wang extended with pointed. I’m really happy to have The 14-year-old prodigy won Ma Long took top honours at a seventh straight success over got to the final,” said Wang, who the low amateur’s Silver Cup last last year’s World Cup in Liverpool, the World No.3 that improved hinted at retirement from the month at Augusta National and national set up. shared 58th at the Masters and “This may be my last game so followed up two weeks later by I really just wanted to enjoy it. I making the cut at finishing 71st wanted to use this game as a way at a PGA event in New Orleans. to thank all the people who have Guan accepted a sponsor’s been so supportive of me,” said the exemption invitation into next 29-year-old. week’s event, which will be hosted “I really want to continue play- by 18-time major champion Jack ing, I don’t want to give it up but I Nicklaus at Muirfield Village. cannot deny that younger players “I have had the fortunate pleas- are doing better.” ure of spending time with Guan Earlier, women’s singles cham- and his family and I have found pion Li Xiaoxia doubled her gold him to be mature beyond his medal haul with victory in the years and very passionate about doubles final. his development in the game,” Xiaoxia and partner Guo Yue Nicklaus said. powered to a third successive “The performance of this young world doubles crown with a 5-11, 14-year-old -- who, mind you, is 11-5, 11-7, 11-5, 11-7 win over sin- just an eighth-grader -- in making gles runner-up Liu Shiwen and the cut at the Masters and then in world number one Ding Ning in New Orleans was fantastic. another all-Chinese encounter. “His maturity, composure and Bronze medals were awarded to competitiveness in these two sig- China’s Zhang Jike holds up the winning trophy after the men’s singles China’s Guo Yue (left) and Li Xiaoxia present their world champion tro- losing semi-finalists Chen Meng nificant events sends a message final at the World Team Table Tennis Championships in Paris, yesterday. phy in Paris, during the Women’s Doubles ceremony of the World Table and Zhu Yuling, also of China, and that this young man has a won- Zhang Jike defeated his compatriot Wang Hao. Tennis Championships, yesterday. Singapore pair Feng Tianwei and derful future.” Yu Mengyu. AFP AFP

McCullum backs Hearing set for New Zealand’s Warner over Focus is on playing batsmen Twitter rant good cricket: Sharma NEW DELHI: Mumbai for spinner Harbhajan Singh LONDON: New Zealand cap- SYDNEY: Australia opening Indians skipper Rohit Sharma and pace spearhead Mitchell tain Brendon McCullum insisted batsman David Warner will face (pictured) doesn’t want his Johnson. he still had faith in his batsmen a disciplinary hearing this week team to get distracted by the “I think Harbhajan and after an “hour of madness” cost into an alleged code of conduct spot-fixing controversy in the Johnson are among the top-10 in the team dear in a thumping breach after a Twitter rant Indian Premier League (IPL) IPL. Johnson has been giving us first Test defeat at Lord’s. directed at two of the country’s and says the focus is on playing the initial breakthroughs. Bhajji England went 1-0 up in the leading cricket writers. good cricket against two-time has been fantastic as well. we two-match series, with more than Cricket Australia said yester- champions Chennai Super are looking forward to Bhajji to a day to spare, after dismissing daythe hearing would take place Kings in the first qualifier here deliver with both bat and ball,” New Zealand for just 68 to secure tomorrow via teleconference from today. he said. victory by the huge margin of 170 India, where Warner is playing in “We don’t want Rohit also said runs. the Indian Premier League. to think too much that they haven’t Stuart Broad, who took a Test- “Warner is alleged to have about it (spot- taken any deci- best seven for 44, did the bulk breached Rule 6: Unbecoming fixing). We are sion on Sachin of the damage Sunday as New Behaviour, regarding comments all professional Tendulkar, who Zealand’s pursuit of a victory tar- posted on his Twitter account,” cricketers and we is nursing an get of 239 ended inside 23 overs. CA said in a statement. have an impor- injury on his left An otherwise even contest New Zealand’s Brendon McCullum (left) and Ross Taylor stand in the slips CA began investigating tant task at hand. palm. Tendulkar changed in the hour before lunch during the second day of the first Test match against England at Lord’s Saturday after a fiery exchange So we don’t want didn’t bat at the on Sunday as New Zealand cricket ground in London on Friday. on Warner’s Twitter account, to get distracted,” nets here and slumped to 29 for six. @davidwarner31, against News said Rohit before only bowled for a It was the third time in 2013 Limited’s Robert Craddock, who a training session while. that New Zealand been six down starting this Friday. McCullum had written an article critical of at the Ferozeshah “We are yet to for fewer than 40 runs. took over the gloves at Lord’s, NZ media muted the Indian Premier League. Kotla here take a call. We In the first Test against South having given up keeping in The explosive opener plays for yesterday. will decide on the Africa at Cape Town in January Tests because of back and knee the Delhi Daredevils in the IPL, Rohit said morning of the they were six down for 28 before problems. in critique after which was rocked last week by things have panned out well for match,” he said. being dismissed for 45. In the next Should McCullum, rather than accusations of spot fixing against him since taking over as the Meanwhile, India is mulling Test, in Port Elizabeth, they were reserve gloveman Tom Latham Lord’s loss three Rajasthan Royals players, Mumbai Indians captain from a law to deal with the issue of 39 for six before being bowled out keep at Leeds, New Zealand could including Indian Test paceman Ricky Ponting, who preferred to spot-fixing in sport following last for 121 field Martin Guptill as an extra WELLINGTON: New Shanthakumaran Sreesanth. drop himself owing to poor form. week’s arrest of cricketers and “For so long in this game we batsman. Zealand’s media were muted After posting a tweet with “When it came to me it was bookmakers, government offi- were up with the play and at Meanwhile experienced spin- in their reaction to their side expletives aimed at Craddock, like a big challenge. I was ready cials said yesterday. times we were dictating terms,” ner and fit again former captain being bundled out for just 68 the cricketer then took issue with for it and it came at the right Former India Test bowler McCullum, himself lbw to Broad Daniel Vettori is due in England runs to give England a 170- Craddock’s colleague Malcolm time. The captaincy wasn’t a big Shanthakumaran Sreesanth and for eight, said Sunday. “Within an this week as a member of the run victory in the first Test Conn in abusive tweets. surprise for me because I was two other players were arrested hour the game turned on its head. Black Caps’ one-day squad. at Lord’s on Sunday, instead Rule 6 states that “players and the vice-captain for the last two along with 11 bookmakers on “Our confidence started to sub- “There’s plenty of differ- turning their focus towards officials must not at any time years and was always kept in the Thursday on suspicion of spot- side and the difference between ent options we have to look at,” the second match in Leeds. engage in behaviour unbecoming loop. I am happy with the way fixing in the country’s ongoing the two teams came down to that McCullum said. Their second innings score, to a representative player or offi- things have worked out for me,” Twenty20 league. one hour of madness.” “It’s important to note that sparked by Stuart Broad’s cial that could (a) bring them or said Rohit. The cricket board immediately He added: “We’ve had many batters have done a very good job career-best figures of seven for the game of cricket into disrepute The Mumbai Indian captain suspended the trio, who have of these experiences before and I for us in the most recent Test 44, was New Zealand’s ninth- or (b) be harmful to the interests feels two wins in the league stage been accused of taking money think we’ve put distance between matches. lowest in their 83-year Test of cricket”. against Super Kings will stand in to concede a certain number of the last time we felt this sort of “I totally believe in this group history. Conn said he had no hard good stead for his side. runs in a particular over. pain. of players and just because of one No doubt the fact Brendon feelings and hoped the discipli- “I am not doubting them, but Law Minister Kapil Sibal “We’ve taken some significant poor batting performance it’s not McCullum’s team had actu- nary hearing would do no more they are a very good side. We has consulted sports minister steps forward in the last little panic stations,” added McCullum, ally competed, if not held a than remind Warner of his pub- have ben playing consistently Jitendra Singh and the new while but today was undoubtedly whose side held England to a 0-0 slight advantage for the first lic responsibilities to use more and we have beaten them twice bill will likely be introduced in a step backwards. draw in a three-Test series in three innings before “one hour appropriate language. in the league stage. If we stick the next session of the Indian “You’ve got to give credit where New Zealand concluded in March. of madness” on Sunday when “He texted me on Saturday to our plans we can beat them parliament. credit’s due and Stuart Broad’s Sunday’s collapse was particu- Broad ran through the visi- night to say he did not mean again,” he said. “We have been looking at dif- spell of bowling was high class. He larly hard on Tim Southee, whose tors lineup, helped lessen the to be personal and that he was Asked about Mumbai Indians ferent ways to control and regu- swung the ball beautifully, he was match haul of 10 for 108 saw him criticism. annoyed a photo of him was used poor away record this season, late that part of illegal betting,” able to get the odd ball to hold its become only the second New “In a flash, it was gone,” to illustrate a background story Rohit said: “I don’t believe in sports secretary PK Deb said. line up the slope and his lengths Zealander, after fellow seamer Fairfax Media’s senior cricket on the sleazy nightlife of the IPL home and away advantage. Even “We have been studying how were impeccable.” Dion Nash in 1994, to take 10 writer Mark Geenty wrote. by colleague Robert Craddock,” Chennai Super Kings don’t have they deal with it in the UK and To make matters worse for wickets in a Lord’s Test. “New Zealand boldly dared to Conn wrote in Monday’s Daily a good away record. It is all about Australia and the information New Zealand both wicket-keeper Southee insisted he did not feel dream of a rare Test win at Telegraph. playing good cricket. I think if we we have gathered will be shared BJ Watling (knee) and spinner let down by his team-mates. Lord’s but in the space of one “I replied there were no hard up the ante by at least 10 percent with the Law Ministry. We are Bruce Martin suffered injuries “No one goes out there to do horror hour it became a night- feelings, I was a great believer in I think we will meet our target.” still some distance away from it that made the duo doubtful for that deliberately,” he said. mare.” REUTERS free speech and he was entitled to Rohit was also all praise (the law),” he added. AGENCIES the second Test at Headingley AFP his opinion.” REUTERS Tuesday 21 May 2013 11 Rajab 1434 Volume 18 Number 5706 Sport Price: QR2

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NEW DELHI: The Rajasthan The striker has no plans to leave Barcelona Royals yesterday filed a police complaint against their three players arrested for alleged BY DENZIL PINTO (La Liga title this season) was AC Milan in the last-16 stage, spot-fixing in IPL matches and, very good but the goal is to win many suggested they would go pending inquiry, suspended the DOHA: Barcelona’s super- everything. Of course I cannot on to lift the title at Wembley on trio’s contracts. star Lionel Messi insists he speak about other Spanish teams, Saturday. “Based on the information was happy to receive another but the teams are doing very well However, the four-time provided by the authorities, the Spanish league winner’s medal and are quickly developing. We European champions exited the contracts of all three players have but admits the Catalan club wanted to win all the matches but tournament this month after been suspended pending enquiry. must achieve more success in that is not very easy.” being outplayed in both matches We have already filed a complaint the future, as the striker made In the Spanish league, against Bayern Munich in the with the Delhi police against several young children’s dreams Barcelona were dominant in their semi-finals. all three players earlier today,” come true during his visit to title-winning season and are cur- Barcelona lost 4-0 at the Allianz Rajasthan Royals chairman Qatar yesterday. rently six away from 100 points, Arena and a few days later were Ranjit Barthakur said referring The four-time World Player of which is the target, according humiliated 3-0 at the Nou Camp. to S. Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila and the Year winner, hosted a football to striker Pedro Rodriguez and Messi, who played an impor- Ankeet Chavan. session for young children from coach Tito Vilanova, before the tant role as Barcelona edged FC Barcelona and Argentina forward Lionel Messi smile during a press A case under sections 420 and Qatar, Palestine, Indonesia, Iraq, season ends on June 1. past Qatar-owned Paris Saint- conference at Aspire Academy in Doha, yesterday. BELOW: Messi holds 120B of the Indian Penal Code was Algeria, Tunisia, Oman, Kuwait However, the Catalan club Germain in the quarter-finals on a falcon. Messi was in Doha to launch a new initiative with Ooredoo. registered in the case lodged by and the Maldives at Aspire could not replicate their form the away-goals rule, admitted the now-slain inspector Badrish Dutt Academy, as Ooredoo and the in the latter stages of the UEFA Germans were the ‘better’ team. of Delhi Police’s Special Cell, who Leo Messi Foundation launched Champions League. “The two matches were not intercepted the phone conversa- a new initiative to support mobile After topping their group easy. They (Bayern Munich) tions between the bookies and the health clinics around the world to which consisted of Celtic, Benfica were more physical and were IPL players for spot-fixing. provide medical aid for children and Spartak Moscow, and then better than us during the tie,” Delhi police arrested the in the Middle East, North Africa making history by overturning a said Messi, who arrived in Qatar three cricketers in Mumbai late and South East Asia. 2-0 deficit without help from an early yesterday morning, after Wednesday night on spot-fixing Speaking at a press conference, away goal in their 4-0 (4-2 aggre- watching his side’s 2-1 win against charges, triggering off a huge Messi said: “Winning the league gate) win against Italian giants Valladolid on Sunday. controversy in the middle of the He added: “The disappointment Indian Premier League’s sixth of elimination is now behind us season. and it’s time to look ahead.” Amongst the other decisions The 25-year-old, who is cur- taken by the team, there will rently injured, explained: “There be increased security cover for is no getting around it. This year the players during the play-off is over and we must prepare to against Sunrisers Hyderabad here get back to our best.” tomorrow. When asked if he would ever “As the Royals prepare for the leave Barcelona, whom he has play-offs this week, the team has played for since the age of 13, re-grouped itself after the shock- the Argentine said: “I have never ing events of last week and are thought of playing for another preparing for the play-offs. The club other than Barcelona. But security deployment for the team who knows what the future holds. has been expanded, again in close The future is not in my hands consultation with the BCCI,” but I hope to end my career at all-time top goalscorer said he In response to another ques- said Barthakur a day after BCCI Barcelona.” achieved his dream of becoming tion, the 5 foot 7 inch star, who ordered an internal probe into the Messi said he was not indispen- a footballer. made his first-team debut aged 17, scandal. sible to Barcelona. He said: “I am He said: “My dream was to said: “I always do my best on the “The franchise is in daily con- A young football fan asks a question to Barcelona and Argentina part of a group and we all work become a footballer and I am very pitch. My most important objec- tact with the police authorities striker Lionel Messi during a press conference yesterday. to help each other.” lucky to have done this. Now I tive is to help the whole team in Delhi, Jaipur and Mumbai for PICTURES BY: SHAIVAL DALAL/AGENCIES Replying to questions from want to achieve more things in whether it’s on or off the pitch.” providing any cooperation/infor- young football fans, the Barcelona the future.” THE PENINSULA mation that they might require. Earlier yesterday, Delhi Police recovered Rs.20 lakh from the house of a relative of Chandila in Haryana’s Palwal. Kids in awe after meeting Barca star Delhi Police arrested S. Sreesanth, Chandila and Ankeet DOHA: Young football fans to see him. I could not sleep all Chavan and 12 bookies in a post- spoke of their delight in meet- night because I was so excited.” midnight operation in Delhi, ing football megastar Lionel Another young fan, Amir Mumbai and Ahmedabad May 16 Messi in Qatar yesterday. Mahira said: “I was a bit star- for spot-fixing in IPL matches -- Lucky young football fans struck to be honest of seeing him for payments of up to Rs.60 lakh, from Qatar, Palestine, Indonesia, (Messi).” they would give away a pre-deter- Iraq, Algeria, Tunisia, Oman, Mahira, who is a young actor, mined number of runs in an over. Kuwait and the Maldives had and travelled from Indonesia with Three more people were the opportunity to take part in four friends who are all inter- arrested in connection with the a football session with the four- ested in football added: “It was case Sunday early morning from time World Football Player of the just really good to see him and Maharashtra’s Aurangabad city. Year at Aspire Academy yester- it was an amazing opportunity.” The three Sunil Bhatia, 44, Kiran day, as part of a new initiative Ammar Anatawli from Dole, 43, and Manish Gudewa, 32 by Ooredoo and the Leo Messi Palestine, said he was very hum- all natives of Nagpur are “fixers” Foundation, which was formed bled to see the Argentine. who mediated between the book- in 2007. The young football fan said: ies and the players. The young delegation, who “It was very exciting and I was Meanwhile, IPL team Punjab were invited to the event by very humbled to see him. He is XI’s co-owner Preity Zinta says Ooredoo, also posed with the my hero.” if the charges of spot-fixing are 25-year-old Argentine striker According to a report on the true, it would be badShe said: and Ooredoo Group Chairman Ooredoo website, a young girl “Look, I’d still like to give the Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed from Palestine, who won an accused the benefit of the doubt. bin Saud Al Thani to promote international writing contest, But if the allegations are true, the initiative in supporting a boy from Baghdad, Iraq, who then it’s really really sad for the mobile health clinics around the overcame the loss of a leg to per- country, for the game and for the world and providing medical aid sue his dreams and sporting tal- IPL.” for children in the Middle East, ents from North Africa, formed The Bollywood star added yes- North Africa and South East the delegation. terday: “So much faith is placed Asia. The children also visited other on these players. I don’t think Maged Said Al Shelba, from famous tourist destinations in Five young football fans from Indonesia pose for a picture after Barcelona striker Lionel Messi and Ooredoo they’ve any business betraying Oman, who was present during Qatar, including the Musueum announced a new initiative at a press conference in Doha yesterday. Young football fans from Qatar, Palestine, us like this. If the allegations are the press conference at Aspire of Islamic of Art and the Katara Indonesia, Iraq, Algeria, Tunisia, Oman, Kuwait and Maldives were present at the press conference. true then let me tell you the BCCI Dome said he could not sleep Cultural District. (Board of Control for Cricket in after admitting to being excited In February, Messi, who his first-team debut at 17, was Argentine is the global goodwill after he saw Barcelona win 2-1 India) is going to take very stern in seeing the Argentine striker. joined the Catalan club aged 13, announced as the global ambas- ambassador for Unicef. against Valladolid on Sunday at against these players. At the same The Barcelona fan said: “It was and has gone on to make over sador for Ooredoo. Messi arrived in Qatar early the Nou Camp Stadium. time, we can’t write off the game very nice and I was very happy 240 appearences since making In addition to his role, the yesterday morning, just hours THE PENINSULA just because there might be some rotten eggs in the basket.” IANS