QATAR | Page 14

TENNIS | Page 56

INDEX
QATAR REGION ARAB WORLD INTERNATIONAL

6-16, 38, 39 17 18, 20 21-35

COMMENT BUSINESS CLASSIFIED SPORTS

36, 37 41-46 47-51 51-56

Ramadan projects worth QR35mn unveiled

Murray back from brink to reach Wimbledon semi-finals

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GULF TIMES
In brief

d in

THURSDAY Vol. XXXIV No. 9043

July 4, 2013 Shabaan 25, 1434 AH
www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

Emir meets US senators

AMERICA | Aviation

Bolivia fury after plane diversion

Bolivia yesterday accused the US of trying to kidnap its president, Evo Morales, after his plane was denied permission to fly over some European countries on suspicion he was taking fugitive former US spy agency contractor Edward Snowden to Latin America. Snowden was not on the plane when it landed in Vienna, an Austrian official said. The US has been trying to get its hands on Snowden since he revealed details of its secret surveillance programmes last month. Snowden is believed to be stranded in the transit lounge of a Moscow airport. Bolivia said the incident, in which the plane was denied permission to fly over France and Portugal before making a stop in Vienna, was an act of aggression and a violation of international law. Page 22 EUROPE | Monarchy

Army ousts Mursi

Armed forces chief General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi announces a freezing of the Islamist-drafted constitution and early presidential elections
AFP Cairo

HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani meeting with US senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham at the Emiri Diwan yesterday. The meeting was attended by HE the Foreign Minister Dr Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah.

Belgian king to step down

Belgiums King Albert II said yesterday he would abdicate on July 21 and leave the throne to his son, saying at 79 he felt too old to carry out his duties properly. Albert II, who has three children, ascended to the throne in 1993 when his childless brother Baudouin died. His 53-year-old heir, Philippe, studied at Trinity College, Oxford, and Stanford University, and has led trade delegations to countries such as the US, China and Thailand. Page 27 PHILIPPINES | Tourism

Doha Metro lays tracks for new business opportunities

By Pratap John Chief Business Reporter

Australia, Canada in terror warnings

Australia and Canada yesterday warned about fresh threats of terrorism and kidnapping in the southern Philippines and Canberra barred its diplomats from travelling to three cities in the area. Both urged their citizens not to travel to large parts of the Mindanao region, with the Australian government specifically barring its diplomats from the cities of Davao, Cotabato and Zamboanga. SAUDI ARABIA | Health

Two new deaths from Mers virus

A Saudi man and a woman have died from the Mers virus, raising the death toll from the Sars-like infection in the kingdom to 36, the health ministry said in Riyadh yesterday. Three others infected with the same virus, two in Eastern Province and one in Riyadh, have been treated, the ministry said on its website. Page 18

oha Metro, implemented by Qatar Rail, will provide numerous investment opportunities for the countrys private sector in construction, operations and maintenance even as a study shows the project will boost private sector activities in the national GDP by 0.7%. Overall, the countrys nominal GDP will see an increase of 0.3% in view of the investment opportunities in the mega project, Qatar Rail said. The project is expected to create thousands of job opportunities for nationals in particular. Qatar Rail, in association with Qatar Development Bank (QDB) and a global consultant, has identied some 104 opportunities for the local private sector in the project. The most prominent opportunities will be in manufacturing ready concrete mix for tunnels, engineering digging works, construction of deep foundations, manufacturing waste pipes and sewage systems extensions, construction of structural frames (stations), manufacturing pre-designed steel networks, standard manufacturing (steel bars and blocks), manufacturing of heavy duty glass and ready concrete blocks for the elevated struc-

tures, manufacturing ready concrete blocks (stations), manufacturing protection walls and internal spare parts and construction of elevated yovers and structures. To enhance local private-sector participation in the ambitious national project, Qatar Rail has insisted that international rm/consortium of companies wishing to bid for major tenders should be in partnership with a Qatari company. And that has worked well for Qatar Rail as most foreign companies have a Qatari partner in the recentlyawarded contracts for phase one of Doha Metro. The partnership of local companies with international rms is a perfect combination to bid for Qatar Rail projects. Local companies have the expertise and experience in existing laws, local projects and logistics, while international foreign companies have comprehensive expertise in building railways, Qatar Rail said. Some of the prominent Qatari companies that have entered into a partnership with international companies in the building and design works of Doha Metro are: Qatar Building Company, Galfar Al-Misnad Engineering and Contracting, Al-Darwish Engineering and HBK Contracting. Praising Qatar Rails support of the local companies, Sheikh Ali bin Ha-

mad al-Thani, president of HBK Contracting, said: The World Cup 2022 has given a big impetus for infrastructure growth in Qatar. This growth in infrastructure is expected to be followed after a period of time by growth in the construction sector. There are a lot of international players in the sector but they ultimately need support of local companies to be able to deliver the project. The enhanced support provided in Qatar Rails projects to the local companies will further enhance the capabilities of these companies. Galfar Al-Misnad Engineering and Contracting CEO Satish G Pillai said: Qatar Rail opened up business opportunities for Qatari companies by stipulating mandatory requirement of participation of local companies as consortium partners in large contracts by associating with large companies from world over. Qatar Rail has conducted studies and provided information to private sector companies so they can plan their strategy on investment opportunities and participation in the project. For this, Qatar Rail said it had been very transparent in providing all information related to Doha Metro and Railway Projects. It has held many meetings with local companies in order to place before them the opportunities that Qatar Rail provides to the countrys private sector. Page 43

he Egyptian army toppled Islamist President Mohamed Mursi yesterday after a week of bloodshed that killed nearly 50 people as millions took to the streets to demand an end to his turbulent single year of rule. The announcement, made on state television by Mursis own defence minister, armed forces chief General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, drew a rapturous welcome from the protesters who have camped out on the streets of Cairo for days. Sisi also announced a freezing of the Islamist-drafted constitution and early presidential elections. Thousands of people immediately took to the streets of the capital to celebrate, cheering, whistling, letting off recrackers, and honking car horns in joyous scenes. But Mursis office rejected the move as illegal and called on Egyptians to peacefully resist the coup . Mursi, Egypts rst freely-elected president, came under massive pressure in the run-up to Sundays anniversary of his maiden year in office, with his opponents accusing him of failing the 2011 revolution by concentrating power in Islamist hands. The embattled 62-year-old proposed a consensus government as a way out of the countrys worst crisis since the 2011 uprising ended three decades of authoritarian rule by Hosni Mubarak. But the US urged Mursi to do more as a military deadline passed for him to meet the demands of the people following a week of bloody unrest during mass protests calling for him to quit. The advice came too late, however, as the army said the head of the Supreme Constitutional Court, Adly al-Mansour, a previously little known judge, would become the new leader of the Arab worlds most populous country. Opposition leader Mohamed ElBara-

dei and the heads of the Coptic Church and Al-Azhar, Sunni Islams highest seat of learning, sat alongside the armed forces chief as he announced Mursis overthrow on state television. The choreography was designed to show broad civilian support for the militarys move to topple Mursi, Egypts rst freely elected leader, dashing the hopes of supporters who had seen his elevation to the presidency after years underground as one of the key achievements of the 2011 revolution. Mursis camp had earlier denounced the armys intervention as a coup. For the sake of Egypt and for historical accuracy, lets call what is happening by its real name: military coup, Essam al-Haddad, Mursis national security adviser, said in a statement on Facebook. As tension mounted and crowds poured onto the streets to demand Mursis resignation, Haddad said: As I write these lines I am fully aware that these may be the last lines I get to post on this page. AFP correspondents reported seeing dozens of armoured personnel carriers heading towards Islamist gatherings at Cairo University, Heliopolis and Nasr City. But in Cairos Tahrir Square, the security forces looked on as tens of thousands of anti-Mursi protesters rallied in a demonstration that dwarfed that of the embattled presidents supporters in Nasr City, on the opposite side of town. Come here O Sisi, Mursi isnt my president, the ag-waving protesters chanted in the square, referring to the army chief. The crowd swelled at nightfall, after a scorching day that saw police officers hand out water to the demonstrators in the middle of Tahrir, epicentre of the 2011 uprising that ended three decades of authoritarian rule by Hosni Mubarak. The powerful military had issued a 48-hour deadline on Monday for Mursi to meet the peoples demands , a day after millions of protesters took to the streets across the troubled country calling for him to resign. Thousands of people also gathered in Nasr City in a show of support for Mursi, despite an attack that killed 16 of them and injured 200 overnight. Page 20

Three die in crashes on Airport and Al Khor roads

hree persons were killed and two injured in two separate accidents on Qatars roads yesterday. Two people died when their car overturned on the Al Khor main road at about 11am. The victims were reported to be Asian workers. Police patrols from the Al-Shamal Security Department reached the accident site and supervised the transportation of the bodies to the hospital, a source told Arrayah. Initial investigations by the traffic police found the accident occurred as a result of lack of attention of the driver , a source said. The second accident occurred at 4.45pm on the Airport Road and some ve vehicles were damaged in the crash that claimed the life of a motorist who was driving a sedan. He was killed on the spot when his car was hit by a Land Cruiser on the road that leads from the Airport traffic signal to the Toyota showroom signal. Two people sustained minor injuries in the accident.

The mangled car being removed from the accident site on the Airport Road.

The victims car rammed a light mast and a tree, cutting it into two. There were conicting reports about the identity of the victim. According to some eye witnesses, the deceased was an Arab, probably an Egyptian. They also said the Land Cruiser was driven by an Asian. However, these reports could not be veried. A source said the tragedy occurred after the Land Cruisers right front tyre burst and it swerved to the right, hitting the sedan which hit the post. The sedan was wrecked in the impact of the crash. We heard a loud sound and thought the crane at a nearby construction site had hit something, then we went outside and saw the accident on the road, said a person working in one of the commercial buildings along the Airport Road. They said the victim was thrown out of his car because of the huge impact. His body, they said, was seen lying on the road.

Blood stains on the pole where the car crashed on the Airport Road.

Gulf Times Thursday, July 4, 2013

QATAR
Emir receives Palestinian delegation

HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani holding talks with the head of the Supreme Islamic Council and Preacher of Al-Aqsa Mosque Dr Ikrima Sabri at the Emiri Diwan yesterday. Dr Ikrima Sabri was part of the delegation which met the Emir to congratulate him on assuming power in Qatar. The delegation included Hatem Mohamed Abdel Qader Eid, in charge of Jerusalem file in the Palestinian Fatah Movement, and members of the Jerusalem Committee Haitham al-Hassan and Abdel Qader al-Khateeb.

200 top scholars attend Quran conference in Doha

QNA Doha

he First International Conference on Contemplating the Quran got underway in Doha with the participation of 200 prominent scholars and thinkers in Quranic topics from 30 countries. The conference, organised by the World Society for Quran Contemplation (Tadabbur) in collaboration with the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, seeks to present a global vision and new innovative ideas about Quran contemplation and how to instil the concept of Quran contemplation in Muslim Ummah.

Addressing the opening ceremony, HE the Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Dr Ghaith bin Mubarak al-Kuwari recalled the importance attached by HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, and HH the Father Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani to the Holy Quran and the revival of its sciences in the service of Islam and the Muslim Ummah. Dr al-Kuwari said the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs decided to sponsor all efforts aimed to revive Quran contemplation and memorisation in compliance with the Sunna of Allahs Messenger [PBUH] (The best among you are those who learn the Quran and teach it).

He said that the conference is an opportunity to contemplate in Holy Quran. He said numerous researchers, thinkers and scholars are still working on the translation of its meaning and exploring its Quranic miracles. He added that the Holy Quran is an inexhaustible treasure and still a prime focus in research and translation, terminology and concepts, education, ethics, politics and law. The minister said adherence to Quran is linked to the correct understanding of it, noting that this understanding requires knowledge of the Arabic language. He pointed to the inuence of modern technol-

ogy such as the Internet on spreading Quran and coming up with new ways to facilitate the process of memorising it. He added that scholars must benet from this new reality of modern technology in order to invent new ways of teaching Quranic facts and issue research papers that address suspicions raised by enemies of Islam. For his part, Sheikh Dr Nasser bin Suleiman alOmar pointed to the challenges facing the Muslim Ummah and its efforts to come back to Quran, pointing to the growing number of Quran memorising centres, readers and memorisers who count in the millions.

Gulf Times Thursday, July 4, 2013

QATAR
Emir receives congratulatory cables

Greetings from Chad

New ministries to be located in Dafna area

he new ministries are coordinating with the Ministry of Finance for the purpose of allocation of their headquarters in the Towers area in Dafna, local daily Al-Sharq reported. Ministries are allocated towers on the basis of the nature of their functions. The Towers area in Dafna is the expected location for the ministries, especially for the reason that the Ministry of Finance has several towers in that area which can be provided to the new ministries, the Arabic newspaper said. On the other hand, sources have mentioned that the organisational structures of the new ministries and the other ministries are expected to be nalised before the advent of Ramadan.

HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani has received cables of congratulations from Lebanese President General Michel Suleiman, German President Joachim GauckJoachim Gauck, Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev, Senegalese

President Macky Sall, Singaporean President Tony Tan Keng Yam, Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang and Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev, on the occasion of his assumption of power. The Emir has also received

congratulatory cables from German Chancellor Dr Angela Merkel, Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Singaporean Deputy Prime Minister, Co-ordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs Teo Chee Hean.

HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani has received a congratulatory message from President of Chad Idriss Deby on the occasion of assuming power in Qatar. The message was handed over by Chads Minister of Foreign Affairs and African Integration Moussa Faki Mohamed when the Emir received him and the accompanying delegation at the Emiri Diwan yesterday.

Qatar calls for removal of root causes of N-terrorism

QNA Vienna

he State of Qatar has reaffirmed the need to remove the root causes of nuclear terrorism. Addressing the International Ministerial Conference of Nuclear Security here, the Permanent Representative of Qatar to the International Atomic Ener-

gy Agency (IAEA) Ali Khalfan al-Mansouri, said this can be achieved through a serious progress in nuclear disarmament and the achievement of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) as well as the creation of nuclear weaponsfree zones in the Middle East. He also pointed out the challenges posed by the quantitative and geographi-

cal expansion of energy reactors in ensuring a peaceful and sustainable use of nuclear energy, calling for strengthening nuclear security measures at all levels. Al- Mansouri urged all countries to support the IAEA and improve its capabilities to strengthen the legal framework to prevent nuclear terrorism and raise public awareness about the importance of nuclear en-

ergy and nuclear security measures. Al-Mansouri called on the IAEA to enhance its technical assistance to countries for the establishment of an effective nuclear security and safety system. He stressed the need of implementing their regional and international obligations and joining the relevant international conventions, particularly the

Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material. He also called on the IAEA to establish a regional and international co-operation network to assist the countries to implement their obligations and to reassure the international community, especially neighbouring countries, on the strength of its nuclear security system.

10

Gulf Times Thursday, July 4, 2013

QATAR
Vodafone launches SMS-based contest

Dr Abdulla al-Ajmi

Audience at the presentation.

Expert calls for more training in construction industry

By Salman Siddiqui Staff Reporter

odafone has launched an SMSbased competition, World of Prizes, giving its customers the chance to win daily prizes. By answering SMS questions from a preferred category (sports, history etc), customers will receive points that automatically enter them into a daily draw for an iPhone 5 or Samsung Galaxy S4. At the end of each week, the customer with the highest number of accumulated points stands to win a Toyota Fortuner. On August 31 - at the end of the competition - all participating customers with any number of points are automatically entered into the grand prize draw for the chance to win QR100,000.

Customers can opt for free by texting WORLD to short code 97773. After that, the price per SMS will be QR4 and the charges will apply from the questions category selection. The competition is available in six languages - Arabic, English, Malayalam, Urdu, Hindi and Nepalese. Were very excited to launch this competition, which is fun to take part in and gives customers the opportunity to win daily valuable prizes. Whats more, customers can choose content in the language of their choice, making it easier for them to participate in the competition, said Cindy Moussa, director of marketing, Vodafone Qatar.

Enhancing level of services, Justice Ministrys top priority

HE the Minister of Justice Dr Hassan Lahdan Saqr alMohannadi said the priority of the ministry is to enhance the level of services delivered to citizens and residents. The minister said this during a tour of the ministrys departments and facilities to get briefed by officials and staff on the progress of work. During his tour, the minister said HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani has stressed the importance of direct access to the progress of services provided by ministries, and the need to follow them up closely to identify all problems and obstacles and remedy them immediately. He pointed out that the departments of Real Estate Registration and Authentication will be equipped with modern technologies.

leading expert in Qatar has said that in order to become world class, the construction industry must invest in training for the development of new skills. Speaking at a technical presentation organised by the Qatar Society of Engineers yesterday, Dr Abdulla al-Ajmi also called for research and development to make the best of new concepts, tools, techniques, and new technologies in the construction industry. More importantly, the construction industry must change

its culture and the way it does business in order to meet and exceed their clients expectations, he said. The title of his presentation was The Delivery of Value for Money in Construction Projects. The construction industry is often accused of performing poorly and procuring products of poor value to the customer. Many clients have become dissatised with the performance and level of service they are receiving from the construction industry. The clients complain of poor performance in terms of time, cost and quality, which often results in claims and disputes. The industry is becoming increasingly reliant on a less skilled workforce. Department staff are

not sufficiently well trained to be intelligent construction clients. There is a lack of enhancing the quality and skills of the construction workforce, Dr al-Ajmi said.

The industry is becoming increasingly reliant on a less skilled workforce. Department staff are not sufficiently well trained to be intelligent construction clients. There is a lack of enhancing the quality and skills of the construction workforce
Pointing out the weaknesses in the current state of affairs in the construction industry, he went on to say that there was no

common approach or structured and integrated process for managing and delivering projects throughout the lifecycle of a project. There is also lack of use of information technology to assist in the project development process and a lack of innovation in technology transfer. Also, communication and coordination gaps between the industry and academics and between the clients and industry need to be lled. He said that Qatar would invest around $120bn in huge infrastructure projects in preparation for the FIFA World Cup 2022. This high level of spending on capital projects increases the urgency for improvement in the pro-

curement, management and delivery of new construction projects, he said. He said that the terminology Value For Money means to ensure that the construction programme and its projects were delivered on time; have durability; be t for its purpose; be free from defects on completion; have aesthetically pleasing appearance; provide better allocation of risk; and incur reasonable running costs. The aim of Value for Money is not about public spending cuts that result in reductions in public services, but to ensure government (tax payers) money is spent economically, efficiently and effectively, he added.

al khaliji savings on credit card spend

l Khalij Commercial Bank (al khaliji) said its Platinum credit card holders will enjoy savings this summer by using the card for shopping or spending overseas. All eligible cardholders using al khaliji Platinum credit cards save an average 5% on all overseas spend. al khalijis Visa Platinum credit card is a no-fee card providing 2% cashback on all purchases, combined with zero commission on foreign currency purchases (which in Qatar ranges from 1.75% to 4.2%). This translates into a saving that ranges from 3.75% to 6.2% on any international spend. Last year, al khaliji Platinum cardholders had the best reward scheme during the holiday season, and this years savings promise to be the best yet again. The benets of using al khaliji credit card when overseas, combined with its no-fee offer, makes an al khaliji Visa Platinum card the must-have this holiday season, said Gary Mond, al khalijis head (Personal Banking). What makes al khalijis Platinum credit card so attractive is the combination of several powerful features: 2% cashback on all purchases the customer can redeem monthly or annually, zero commission on overseas spend and no annual fees, free purchase protection, extended warranty and legal and medical referrals, in addition to a considerable range of discounts exclusive to Visa -covering hotels, leisure activities, restaurants, shopping and our multi-award-winning Premium Banking service, Mond explained.

Official

National Day greetings

HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani have sent cables of congratulations to president of Belarus on his countrys National Day.

PM meets US senators
HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani met US Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham in Doha yesterday. Talks dealt with aspects of co-operation between the US and Qatar and issues of common concern. The Prime Minister and Interior Minister also met Director General of the French National Gendarmerie Force General Denis Favier, who is currently on a visit to Doha. During the meeting, aspects of co-operation in issues of common interest were discussed.

Qatar-Chad ties discussed

HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid al-Mahmoud met the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Integration and International Co-operation in Chad Moussa Faki Mahamat. They discussed co-operation between Qatar and Chad and means to develop them in various fields. The meeting was attended by the Ambassador of Chad to Qatar Abubakr alsiddiq Chourouma and a number of officials at the Cabinet.

Gulf Times Thursday, July 4, 2013

11

QATAR

Qatar team gets set for Microsoft competition

By Noimot Olayiwola Staff Reporter

he Qatar team that will take part in the Microsoft Imagine Cup 2013 to be held in St Petersburg, Russia from July 8-12, is getting ready to come on top of other contestants during the annual event being described as the worlds most prestigious student technology competition. The all-female team Qspark, comprising four third-year students from Qatar University, includes three computer science students - Latifa Talal al-Naimi, Amna Khalid al-Kaabi and Rahma Saleh Ali; and one computer engineering student Mariam Ali Bahameish. The team was seen yesterday putting the nal touches to their novel project titled Artouch during a practice session demonstrating serious condence and readiness to present their project in front of an expert audience at the worlds championship and win over $300,000 in prizes. Their project Artouch had emerged the winner over four others by students of Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar and Texas A&M University at Qatar during a local championship held in March. The ve competing projects were shortlisted from an approximately 470 registrations. Artouch is a novel approach offering museum visitors the ability to virtually touch and feel the museum artifacts which would normally be out of their reach. The system is also promising to benet the visually impaired

QA to open high-street ticket office at Harrods

atar Airways is set to open its agship highstreet ticket office in the iconic British department store Harrods in Knightsbridge. The airlines new central London location will offer personalised booking service for travellers to visit some 128 destinations across six continents. Located on the lower ground oor, next door to Harrods Bank, the Qatar Airways concession is among one of the largest and most prestigious collections of luxury brands in the world. The new Qatar Airways concession is truly a local store for many travellers whatever their needs, the airline said. For Qatar Airways customers travelling to London on one of its ve daily ights, the convenient Knightsbridge location provides ve-star personalised service to meet most travel needs, it said. London is one of our most important gateways, said Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar al-Baker. We are opening our ticket office in central London at Harrods as it is a place that not only reects the high level of service we offer, but is where our most discerning customers can be found. Harrods customers can now experience our unrivalled ve-star service instore and onboard. Qatar Airways is an indus-

try innovator that has made headlines in the UK as the rst to introduce the Boeing 787 Dreamliner with scheduled ights from London Heathrow, the airline said. Our rapidly growing network is constantly adding new and exotic destinations - six this year already, said Qatar Airways chief commercial ofcer Marwan Koleilat.

Team Qspark is seen in action during a presentation held at the Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar yesterday. people by enabling them to touch the artifacts and experience them. The team is being mentored by Qatar University faculty member Dr Osama Halabi, who will be accompanying them to Russia. Artouch was made by using the Microsofts Kinect sensor that takes in a 3D image of the museum artifact, via a computer that processes the artifact image into a 3D mesh object, and a Haptic device to provide the user the ability to virtually feel and touch the object. The system also enables the visitors to listen to information about the artifact as if it is coming from the object using 3D sound. Speaking to the Gulf Times yesterday about new additions to their project ahead of the preparation for the contest in Russia, the team said the features of the system have been upgraded by making use of the latest Microsoft Kinect for Windows SDK. This new version of Kinect SDK gives a much better 3D model of the objects being viewed using the system, which is quite different from the old version, they explained adding that aside being useful for museum artifacts, the system can also be broadly adopted for use in interacting with art objects in Art Institutes and School of Arts. We are condent that our project will receive positive nod at the contest as it is the only project that is a combination of both hardware and software whereas projects by most of our competitors are either based on Windows phone or Windows 8. We are the only team that is not using a mobile phone platform for their project, the team claimed. According to them, the idea for the project came from strict restrictions imposed by museums that prevent visitors from touching artifacts because they are expensive and priceless. We believe that museums are an important means to educate society about various cultural aspects including historical artifacts. However, theyre not as interesting as one would hope them to be. Since museum visitors are prohibited from touching the artifacts for fear of damaging them, theyre not getting the full benet out of museums. It is therefore this observation and our general knowledge of the curiosity in human nature to touch and experience the environment around them that inspired us with the idea of Artouch, al-Naimi said of the project on Imagine Cup website. Now in its 11th year, Imagine Cup is an annual competition sponsored and hosted by Microsoft Corporation, which brings together young technologists worldwide to help resolve some of the worlds toughest challenges. Imagine Cup 2013 comprised three competition tiers: games, innovation and world citizenship. The Qatar team is sponsored by Qatar Petrochemical Company.

We are opening our ticket office in central London at Harrods as it is a place that not only reflects the high level of service we offer, but is where our most discerning customers can be found
And our award-winning onboard-services and Premium Lounge at Heathrow keep getting better as conrmed by the recent Skytrax 2013 awards for Worlds Best Business Class and Worlds Best Business Class Lounge we received at this years Paris Air Show.

Gulf Times Thursday, July 4, 2013

13

QATAR

New QNRF Islamic art museums exhibition to explore Haj pilgrimage grant for T students
T
he Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF) yesterday announced a new cycle of grants worth $1,570,088 for undergraduate students in Qatar. The grants are part of the Undergraduate Research Experience Programme (UREP), now in its 14th cycle. UREP, which provides recipients with hands-on experience conducting original research under faculty mentorship, has seen participation by more than 2,200 students since its inception. funding. The awarded institutions include Qatar University (QU), Texas A&M University at Qatar (TAMUQ), Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Qatar (GU-Q), University of CalgaryQatar, Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar, Northwestern University in Qatar and Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar. QU led the awarded institutions, with 27 projects receiving funding for research involving 106 students and 44 faculty members. TAMUQ received funding for ve projects and GU-Q received four research grants. Sunitha Shyam, training programmes manager at QNRF said, Over 500 young Qatari women have participated in UREP so far. We are particularly pleased at the level of interest it has garnered, given our mission to support young women in Qatar to develop their skills in science and research. The undergraduate students awarded as part of this cycle will carry out research on a range of topics relevant to everyday life in Qatar, including techniques for safer driving, methods for screening gastrointestinal pathogens among arriving workers, studies on female corporate leadership, and the history of Qatars cuisine. First launched in 2006, UREP is QNRFs longest running programme, with two cycles per year. QNRF is a member of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development. he Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) has announced its forthcoming exhibition, Haj-The Journey Through Art in its special exhibition gallery, to be shown alongside an outdoor photography exhibition. The exhibition, which opens to the public on October 9, takes place in collaboration with the British Museum, London. It is based on the concept and exhibition of Haj - Journey to the heart of Islam, which was held at the British Museum in 2012. Haj- The Journey Through Art is the rst exhibition of its kind to be held in a Muslim country, celebrating and illuminating the pilgrimage through art and artifact. Although the concept of the exhibition is based on the British Museums earlier showcase, it is unique in that 90% of the objects to be exhibited are from Qatari collections. The MIA exhibition aims to highlight, through art, one of the ve pillars of Islam Haj. It explores the history of the pilgrimage over the centuries, bringing together a rich and varied collection that focuses on three main themes: the routes taken by pilgrims (with a special section on the oral histories and objects of Qatari pilgrims), the rituals of Haj as depicted through art, and the experience of the pilgrims after completion of Haj, including gifts and souvenirs brought back from

A brass Qibla Indicator, Safavid, Iran (Isfahan), late 17th century, signed Abd al-Aimma. Mecca. In keeping with the exhibitions local theme, MIA has asked the residents of Qatar, whether nationals or expats, to contribute their own souvenirs, gifts or objects related to Haj. By lending the museum their Haj memorabilia, local communities will effectively be sharing their own experiences of the journey and offer a Qatari perspective. The holy pilgrimage of Haj, one of the ve pillars of Islam, is considered a rite required of all Muslims who are physically and nancially able. The pilgrimage holds special signicance to Muslims

across the globe and attracts pilgrims in their millions every year. Curated by Dr Mounia Chekhab-Abudaya (MIA Curator of Manuscripts) in association with Dr Ccile Bresc (MIA Curator of Coins), Haj -The Journey Through Art, a part of Qatar UK 2013 Year of Culture, takes the visitor on an exciting exploration of Haj through the art collections of Qatar, including a number of signicant public and private collections, many of which have never before been displayed. A photography exhibition - running parallel to the main exhibition - will feature the works of ve international photographers: Peter Sanders (Britain), Reem al-Faisal (Saudi Arabia), Kayuzoshi Nomachi (Japan), Juliette Sawyers (Australia) and Khalifa al-Obaidly (Qatar), all of whom offer unique visions of Haj through their own experiences of the pilgrimage. Haj -The Journey Through Art will be supported by a full educational programme that will include calligraphy, embroidery and painting workshops for children and families, as well as public lectures from scholars and several contemporary artists whose works are featured in the exhibition. Published as an album, the catalogue of the exhibition will focus on Qatari collections and the three themes of the exhibition.

QNRFs executive director Dr Abdul Sattar al-Taie, said UREP has provided invaluable research experience to hundreds of undergraduate students over the past seven years, helping to build a research culture among young people in Qatar. In total, UREP has supported almost 700 projects for basic and applied undergraduate research in the elds of natural sciences, engineering and technology, medical and health sciences, agricultural sciences, social sciences and the humanities. In UREPs latest cycle, 128 proposals were submitted to QNRF and, after a stringent peer review process, 42 were granted

Top French ranking for Katara Hospitalitys property

atara Hospitality announced yesterday that its Le Royal Monceau Raffles Paris property has been granted the highest hotel ranking in France. Atout France, the French Agency for Tourism Development has awarded the Palace Distinction to the recently redesigned hotel. The ranking is one step higher than

five stars, thus positioning Le Royal Monceau Raffles Paris in the league of elite hotels in the French capital alongside just six others. Hamad Abdulla al-Mulla, Chief Executive Officer of Katara Hospitality, said: Le Royal Monceau Raffles Paris is one of the jewels in Katara Hospitalitys portfolio of iconic hotels. The Pal-

ace Distinction endorses the hospitality legacy created by this hotel through decades of glorious history, unparalleled service standards provided by an enthusiastic team and a glamorous list of guests who lived its spirit over the years. Le Royal MonceauRaffles Paris was reopened in 2010 after a complete transformation under the direction of the

renowned designer Philippe Starck. Katara Hospitality announced the addition of Le Royal MonceauRaffles Paris to its portfolio in January 2012. The Palace Commission jury highlighted the exceptional location of the hotel as well as the excellent cooking by Executive Chef Laurent Andr at La Cuisine and Il Carpaccio .

Le Royal Monceau-Raffles Paris

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Gulf Times Thursday, July 4, 2013

QATAR

Commercial Bank event supports intern training

C
ommercial Bank organised a skills and learningbased event for summer interns from June 30 to July 2 at Commercial Bank Academy. The programme was intended to motivate, inform and engage interns through a variety of workshops, talks and seminars, providing them with the ideal introduction to the Qatari banking industry. Over the three days, David Collins, executive coach and leadership mentor, helped the interns prepare for life in the workplace by training them in some of the key skills and techniques necessary for their upcoming work experience. These included business ethics, organisational understanding, communication skills, team-building skills and motivational techniques. In addition, the event provided interns with the opportunity to meet other students of the programme and help develop a sense of community. The event also reaffirmed Commercial Banks continued investment in the development of young Qatari talent, in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030. During the year, the bank has been involved in a number of development and career-focused initiatives, including the 2013 Future Leaders Programme, Qatar Career Fair 2013 and Carnegie Mellon Universitys Professional Day . Fahad Badar, EGM and head of wholesale banking, said: Commercial Bank, in line with Qatars 2030 vision, strives to encourage the development of young people within the bank and the State of Qatar in general. The intern development event is a testament to our commitment to invest in developing young people and contributing to the Qatari community by enhancing the skills of our interns and preparing them to take on an active role in the workplace.

Officials and participants who attended the three-day event.

New ways of donation

atar Charity (QC) has introduced a number of new methods of donation during the holy month of Ramadan, allowing donors to choose the one that best suits them. The methods include: automated coupons, an electronic device located in major shopping centres that allow people to donate different amounts to different projects when they are paying for their shopping. The cashier will deduct the amount to be donated in cash or by credit card after entering a coupon code that was donated during the shopping process. QC website: Donors could visit QC website at www.qcharity.org, click on the electronic donation button and choose the campaign they would like to donate to and the amount . Instructions are available in both Arabic and English. Via the mobile phone app Best of my Work (Khairu Amali) which is available on Blackberry and Android and allows people to donate by credit card or SMS once or periodically. Donation through Doha digital market at www.dohasouq.com, where donors will nd QC coupons allowing them to choose the area of donation and make a payment by credit card during the shopping process. Star donation points (Ooredo): This service is performed through Ooredo website. The donor donates the number of points added which is then converted into funds for QC projects in amounts between QR25 and 2,000.

QC is also seeking to implement a number of large scale projects starting from this Ramadan through partnerships with donors
Rewards programme at Qatar National Bank: allows bank customers to donate the value of the points earned during their transactions for the benet of QC projects via Bank POS devices. Commercial Bank donated prizes: a service that allows Commercial Bank customers to donate the value of the points available to customers which are then converted into a voucher to help fund QC projects. Donate Dream points: allows customers of Doha Bank to donate their points to QC projects. Ooredo SMS: an integrated system that allows people to donate QR50 by sending an SMS to the number 92632, or to 92642 to donate QR100. An ongoing donation by sending a text message to 92060 for a monthly, daily or weekly subscription. By landline or mobile phone by calling 9002000 to donate QR15 to Zakat al-Fitr projects, 2002001 for QR20 to Iftar projects, 9002002 for QR50 to education projects or 9002004 for QR100 to orphanages. The call can be repeated as often as possible and the donor can choose the projects . Self-service: an electronic device located in major business complexes allows people to donate to areas of their choice in cash in any currency, cheque or bank card. The funds or cheques

are simply placed inside the donation envelopes. Dirhams project: this allows people to donate their surplus currency (QR0.25, 0.50 and 0.75), while shopping in centres and malls, and add the value they wish to donate to the bill. The participating complexes will use a barcode system. The scheme also allows people to donate surplus dirhams on their bank balance. This service is available at Al Meera, Lulu Hyper Market, Qataria for Consumer Complexes, Mega Mart, Shoprite, the Palace of Food and Quality and the Shaheen Group. Partner banks include Doha Bank, Al Ahli , Commercial Bank and AlRayyan Bank. POS: These are devices from banks that allow donations by cards, saving the trouble of looking for ATMs or using cash. Electronic collection tables: allow people to donate to QC projects through the main collection points by traditional electronic system works regardless of network connection using payment by check, cash or bank card. Mobile collection: allows donors to donate via a tablet device provider using a 3G and WiFi connection and a small printer with a mobile payment device using the same electronic system of the electronic tablets. QC has been a forerunner among charities in terms of having a dedicated department to calculate Zakat and answer Sharia questions related to it by experts and a dedicated team that calculates Zakat: cash, stocks, trade, entrepreneurs, work income, cattle, etc. by telephone, fax, or personal visit. Inquiries are received and dealt with by: a personal visit, telephone or fax. Hours of service are extended during the month of Ramadan when the team operates 8 am- 12 am and until 2am in the last ten days of the holy month. Further, QCs Everything they had campaign was launched to highlight the suffering of needy communities, showing that, what you see is what they have in terms of shelter, food, sponsorships, and education among other things. QC is also seeking to implement a number of large scale projects starting from this Ramadan through partnerships with donors. The projects include: A relief project for the Syrian people which highlights their suffering, the length of the crisis and the depth of their wounds. An educational project aimed at enabling 3,000 poor students in 16 countries to continue their education . Construction of 10 schools in ten needy and poor communities by raising QR6,000,000. Sponsoring 6,000 orphans for a period of one year in 25 countries by raising QR15mn. Providing food and water for 100,000 persons for a period of one month in Syria, Niger, Yemen and Tunisia by raising QR30mn. Sponsorship of 10,000 poor individuals in 16 countries through small income-generating activities at a cost of QR 800 per unit and a total cost of QR30mn to be raised from Zakat.

Qatar Charitys Ramadan projects worth QR35mn

atar Charity (QC) will carry out Ramadan projects valued at QR35mn for the benet of around 1,766,000 people, both in Qatar and abroad this year. Around 450,000 people in Qatar will benet from the campaign, representing an increase of 120,000 from last year. The total number of beneciaries, both in Qatar and abroad, has increased by more than 600,000 people. The cost of QC Ramadan projects outside amounts to QR23,766,000, beneting 1,316,000 people in 35 countries. QC CEO Yusuf bin Ahmed alKuwari, local development executive manager Ibrahim Abdulla al-Muhannadi and support department director Ahmed Saleh al-Ali announced the details yesterday. Al-Kuwari pointed out that Ramadan campaign comes in conjunction with the launch of QCs Everything they had campaign which aims to raise funds for relief projects for the Syrian people, as well as the development of the poorest and most vulnerable communities around the world in the elds of education, income-generation, water, food and sponsorships. The focus this year is on Syrian people observing the Ramadan fast, particularly the internally displaced and those living as refugees in the neighbouring countries of Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey and Iraq, as well as residents of Islamic countries and regions which suffer from siege, drought or natural disasters such as Palestine and Somalia. The projects include Iftars (breakfast meals), food baskets, nancial aid, clothing and other necessities, Zakat al-Fitr, Eid gifts, support for orphans and educational and cultural programmes.

QC officials briefing the media about the Ramadan campaign yesterday. There will also be a number of new projects this Ramadan, such as the Take your adornment project targeting 2,000 labourers and people on low-income. They will be provided with clothes and perfumes. The project is valued at QR200,000. Another new project is the Iftar Tables , which will benet 174,000 fasting persons by providing Iftar at 10 group tables across the country, focusing on single workers and passers-by, at a total cost of over QR5,135,000. Tables will be located at Al Khor Industrial Area, Abdullah bin Ali al-Misnad secondary school at Al Khor, Farij Abdulaziz School, Ahmad Ibn Hanbal School in Najma, Al-Yarmouk School in Bin Omran, the Arabic Club in New Salata Al-Asiri, AlSyliyah, Al Rayan, Shahaniyaha and Wakra. The initiative Fieh Al-Aah aims to provide Iftars for families with limited income through a contract with productive families who will supply meals at a nominal charge. It seeks to support 50 productive families and low-income families at a cost of around QR320,000, beneting 7,500 people. Ramadan supplies, to be implemented at a cost of around QR400,000, will see distribution of parcels containing basic food items to 1,000 low-income families in various neighbourhoods via coupons available at commercial complexes as a gift from QC at the beginning of the holy month. Mobile Breakfast is distribution of snacks prepared by productive families for motorists who are unable to reach their homes to break the fast. The project aims to benet around 9,000 people at a total cost of around QR365,000. Supporting expatriate communities Iftar tables and initiative for Arab and Muslim expatriate communities in Qatar, will benet around 10,000 fasting people at a cost of more than QR 215,000. Giving water for the worshipers involves the distribution of 350ml bottles of cold water during the Taraweeh prayers. Around 5,376 people are expected to benet per day, or 161,280 beneciaries throughout Ramadan, at a cost of about QR220,000. Ramadan gift involves QC distributing cash to 1,000 households of families with little or no income, as well as widows and divorced women, the sick and orphans, at a cost of QR1,111,000. Zakat al-Fitr targets 1,000 families in Qatar with limited income and debts, widows and divorced women, the sick, the elderly and orphans, at a cost of QR555,000. One of the objectives of the project is to ease the burden for families registered at QC during Eid. Projects beneting the family (Al-Baraha) have been expanded to cover Shahaniya and Al Khor areas and will run throughout the holy month as opposed to the last ten-days as it was done last year. They are expected to benet 24,000 persons at a cost of around QR950,000. A special radio programme airing the Holy Quran is being implemented in Qatar at a cost of QR183,000. It will be divided into two parts; one for adults and one for children. The programme, scheduled to air every week on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday from 10:30 to 11:30 pm, is expected to attract around 60,000 listeners. QC Ramadan projects outside Qatar targets beneting around 1,316,000 persons at an estimate cost of QR23,766,000. The distribution of Zakat al-Fitr, valued at about QR3,000,000, is expected to benet more than 185,000 individuals in 35 countries. There will be also cash assistance to needy families and orphans in 33 countries at a cost of QR8,500,000, for the benet 62,000 people.

QFIS hosts Turkish students

he Arabic Department at Languages Centre, Qatar Faculty of Islamic Studies (QFIS), has hosted a Turkish delegation of 20 students from the Faculty of Theology at Marmara University, Istanbul. The visit was part of an agreement between the two sides to send groups of students to attend short courses at QFIS, with the initiative contributing to the promotion of Arabic linguistic skills for non-native speakers belonging to other cultures. Pictured are the visiting students with Sheikh Dr Yousef al-Qaradawi, president of the International Union for Muslim Scholars. The delegation also visited various landmarks in Qatar.

Gulf Times Thursday, July 4, 2013

15

QATAR

Lexus IS unveiled in Doha

exus, in association with local distributor Abdullah Abdulghani and Bros, has launched the all-new Lexus IS model range of vehicles in Qatar. Lexus sedans emphasise an emotional design and improved performance. It delivers real pleasure in all driving scenarios, the most advanced technologies and the thrill of F Sport, a spokesman for AAB told reporters in Doha. Dr Nasser Abdulghani alAbdulghani, managing director for AAB said: With its contemporary and elegant design, advanced driving dynamics and innovative technology, the new IS range marks the entry of a distinctive and premium sports sedan to provide a truly responsive vehicle which is a natural extension of its driver. The pursuit of perfection has earned us a

reputation for amazing technical excellence, not to mention superior service and a new standard of luxury. The new IS looks fast and powerful with its unique trademark spindle grille that is elegant and powerful from the front. From the side, the lines of the car ow smoothly from the door sill up to the tail-lights in the rear which gives the car a sportier look. The L-shaped LED daytime running lights are positioned underneath the headlamp cluster drawing the eye to the side and rearwards in a subtle but sophisticated way. This is a three-dimensional design at its best from any angle suggesting speed and agility. The interior of the car has an exciting cockpit-like design with the multi-way adjustable front seats which are supportive and

Lexus and AAB officials at the launch ceremony. secure. The dashboard has an operation zone and a display zone, allowing drivers better situational awareness and control. The cabins contemporary lighting, premium materials, and other features suggest the highest quality and luxury. The longer wheelbase increases rear seat space and luggage capacity. New laser welding and adhesive bonding techniques have been used to increase body rigidity. New sub frame and cowl side braces improve handling and steering. The revised front suspension has a 20 percent increase in sway rigidity while the multilink suspension provides better grip and control. The new electric power steering system offers a more authentic road feel, with better feedback. The IS 350 come with a 3.5l V6 with D4-S direct and port fuel injection. The IS 250 is powered by a smooth 2.5l V6. The eight-speed, Sport Direct Shift automatic transmission features paddle shifters and the G-force Articial Intelligence Shift automatically selects the optimum gear and downshift pattern in response to G force. A new drive mode select system features up to four driving modes.

LuLu Exchange opens doors to rst outlet in Qatar

L
Indian Ambassador Sanjiv Arora cuts a ribbon to inaugurate the first branch of LuLu Exchange in Qatar. PICTURE: Jayan Orma

uLu Exchange Company started its operations in Qatar by launching its rst outlet in Lulu Hypermarket on D-Ring road yesterday. Indian Ambassador Sanjiv Arora inaugurated the branch by cutting a ribbon in the presence of Yusuff Ali M A, managing director of Lulu Group International, Dr R Seetharaman, CEO, Doha Bank and other dignitaries. The company, which is in exist-

ence since 1996, has been rebranded as the LuLu Exchange Company WLL and is managed by the LuLu International Exchange LLC, a fastgrowing remittance and foreign exchange company. LuLu International Exchange, which enjoys considerable brand loyalty and patronage, operates out of ve Asian countries at present and we have brought in the experience cou-

pled with expertise to Qatar through this management agreement to serve our customers here, Yusuff Ali said. Company managing director Adeeb Ahamed said: Bringing convenience to customers has always been a priority to us and it is this approach that has made us a favourite of customers and has helped us grow in a fast pace. It is our vision to be the rst choice in nancial services

by setting up high standards of customer satisfaction. According to Yusuff Ali, the companys corporate slogan Valuing Your Trust is the reection of the company itself. He affirmed that Lulu Exchange has ensured fair business practices, including rigorous compliance to global anti-money laundering protocols, in the best interest of its regulators and customers.

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Gulf Times Thursday, July 4, 2013

QATAR

Long-serving Marzooq Al Shamlan duo feted

M
arzooq Al Shamlan & Sons (MSS), the leading Qatari company in the watch business, has recognised the services of two of its long-serving employees at a special event held at Radisson Blu on Tuesday. Mubarak Jaber al-Muftah, who has completed 57 years, and K V Ramakrishnan (Ravi), who has a 25-year career, were honoured by MSS managing director Mohamed al-Shamlan and deputy managing director Tariq al-Shamlan. Video presentations showcasing memorable moments from the careers of Mubarak and Ravi were screened at the event attended by their well-wishers and other senior officials and staff members of MSS. MSS believes in its people, said Mohamed al-Shamlan while lauding the commitment and dedication of both Mubarak and Ravi and quoted several memorable moments from their careers, starting from the very early days as a small business and through various stages of its growth over the years. Tariq al-Shamlan recalled

Mohamed and Tariq al-Shamlan, Mubarak al-Muftah and Ravi with MSS officials and staff members at the function.

knowing Mubarak from his childhood and described Ravi as a family member. Mubarak thanked Mohamed al-Shamlan and Tariq al-Shamlan for giving

the opportunity to serve MSS for the past 57 years and also thanked every member of the MSS family for organising the event. Ravi paid tribute to all the indi-

viduals who made a difference in his life and career and supported his growth with MSS. TechnoBlue general manager K V Gopal, International Tire Centre man-

ager Vishwas, Kemco group of companies administration director M I Farid, and Al Sharif Trading (Dubai) director Amin offered felicitations. A special memento

was presented to Radisson Blu, the venue for all MSS events in the past two decades. The hotels sales and public relations manager, Ali Battah, received it from Mohamed

al-Shamlan. MSS supply chain manager Ramesh Rajan welcomed the gathering while brand development head Sreeram proposed the vote of thanks.

Businessman-cum-activist Safari Group brings honoured with doctorate its Win 5 BMW 5 A Series cars promo
doctorate was conferred upon M P Hassan Kunhi, prominent Indian businessman and socio-cultural and educational activist, by The International Open University in recognition of his outstanding contribution in medical tourism and humanitarian services. The degree was awarded at the International Congress of Integrated Medicines, held in the Malaysian capital recently. Dr Kunhi, a long-time Doha resident, has been running multi-faceted business ventures in the GCC countries, Sudan and India over the past 35 years. His business enterprises include Scitech Arabia, Hala Pharmacy, Hamton International, Hamilton International, Powerman International, Planet Fashion, Planet Cargo, Planet Trading & Transportation, Instashine Cleaning Company, Lighting Solution, Middle East Consultants, Home in One, Global Mechanical, Horeitia Global, Fine Dcor and Contracting Qatar, Hygiene Care Trading, Saudi Arabia, and Horizon Hotel Sudan. Dr Kunhis business ventures in India are H K Builders and Developers, Holy Prop Industries, Design & Interior Industries, Molecular Multi-specialty Hosafari Group of Companies has launched a Win 5 BMW 5 Series cars mega promotion to coincide with the Holy Month of Ramadan and upcoming festive occasions. Customers who buy goods worth QR50 until October 28 at any Safari outlet will be eligible to get a raffle coupon to enter into the three mega draws for the promotion, which will be held from October 29 to 31. In a statement, Safari Group general manager Zainul Abideen K said: Three winners will take away three BMW 5 Series cars from the first draw that will be held at Safari Mall. The second draw will be held at Safari Hypermarket, Salwa Road branch, where one winner will drive away with a BMW car. The third and last draw will be held at Safari Shopping Complex at Umm Salal Mohamed where one winner will drive away a BMW 5 series car. The just-concluded Drive your dream Mercedes Benz 2013 promotion got tremen-

support extended to us over the years, which gave us motivation to excel in our field, the statement added.

Customers who buy goods worth QR50 until October 28 at any Safari outlet will be eligible to get a raffle coupon to enter into the three mega draws for the promotion
Over the last many years of operations, we have perfected our products and services to cater to the increasing needs of customers. We have made a wide variety of categories of quality products available and affordable to customers through our ideallylocated outlets and are working on many more ways to serve our customers better. All our previous mega promotions have been well appreciated by customers and we expect that this new promotion will also be happily accepted and supported by our valued customers, the statement further said.

Dr M P Hassan Kunhi at the convocation ceremony in Malaysia.

Zainul Abideen

pital Private Ltd and Molecular Cyclotrone Pvt Ltd. Dr Kunhi is also the managing director of Cochin Medical City, an integrated medical tourism project in the planning stage. He is a director of Al Rafa Polyclincs, Al Khayam Sweets International Qatar and P M S College of Den-

tal Science & Research, Thiruvananthapuram, India. On the social front, Dr Kunhi is also president of Muslim Education Society of Kerala, Doha Chapter; president, Sir Syed College Alumini, Qatar Chapter; president and founder-member, Ideal Indian School, Qatar; former presi-

dent, Kannur Muslim Jammat, Qatar Chapter; patron, Muslim Educational and Cultural Association, Payangadi, Kannur; foundermember and former treasurer, Indian Cultural Centre; foundermember of Indian Community Benevolent Fund; and chairman of Antismoking Society Qatar.

dous response from customers, the Safari Group said. Considering this, the company said it has thought of launching another Drive your dream cars promotion to give valued customers value for their money . Safari is grateful to all its customers for the

Honour for Arab chef

atafeat TV celebrity and Meat & Livestock Australias Mena corporate chef Tarek Ibrahim is the rst Arab chef to be nominated for and receive the coveted Master Chef from the World Association of Chef Societies (WACS). The title of Master Chef is given to professional chefs who create innovative dishes of exceptional quality, push boundaries with creative concepts and hold a reputation for culinary excellence. Chef Tarek said, There are very few chefs who gain Master Chef status and it is such a fantastic honour to receive this accreditation as an Arab chef and gain international recognition for my cuisine. I hope to inspire the new generation of professional Arab chefs to go on to greater achievements and with my new show, 100 Lahma on Fatafeat TV, impart my experience and knowledge to give home cooks more confidence in the kitchen. 100 Lahma (100 Meat) showcases the very best of lamb and beef dishes and will have English subtitles. The show covers 100 delicious and nutritious halal meat

Chef Tarek Ibrahim recipes, including culinary delights such as roast shoulder of lamb with garlic, beef Wellington and Moroccan lamb tagine. The rst show was aired at 1pm (Saudi Arabian time) on June 24 and would run for 60 days. 100 Lahma will run three times per day and the highlights include chef Tareks lessons on preparation, use of different cuts and halal integrity.

Gulf Times Thursday, July 4, 2013

17

REGION
Embassies, businessmen, workers hail extension of Saudi amnesty for visa violators
Reuters Riyadh

audi businessmen, expatriates and several countries welcomed a four-month

extension to an amnesty for foreign workers with visa violations yesterday, saying it allowed businesses to operate as usual. A ban on tolerating workers with visa violations was due to come into force yesterday. But

King Abdullah decided on Tuesday to postpone the crackdown until November 3 because of requests from foreign embassies and Saudi businessmen, state media reported. The ban had overwhelmed

government offices and foreign consulates called on to change the status of thousands of workers, who were forced to queue for hours in sweltering heat. Many had lost their passports or fallen off official records while others

had not completed their paperwork in time. English-language daily Arab News quoted consuls from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Indonesia and the Philippines, which supply workers to

the Gulf, welcoming the extension of the amnesty. We had some problems transferring all the people working for us to our own sponsorship because it will affect our localisation quota, said the manager of

an engineering company who declined to be named. The decision is very positive. The queues seemed endless and you could see them everywhere in Riyadh, standing under this heat for days.

Rohani: state must not meddle in private lives

Irans moderate presidentelect cautions the state against meddling in the private lives of its citizens, renewing his campaign promise of easing restrictions at home
Reuters Dubai

resident-elect Hassan Rohani called yesterday for the government and powerful clergy to end interference in the private lives of the Iranian people, free up Internet access and allow state media to be more open about Irans problems. Rohanis comments began to esh out his message of moderation at home and better relations abroad that contributed to his surprise election victory last month. His election prompted a huge outpouring of support from Iranians hungry for change after eight years of domestic security crackdowns and international confrontation under hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. There shouldnt be any rift or division between the government or the clergy especially at a time when people have pinned their hopes on seeing some sort of change in society, Rohani, a mid-ranking cleric,

told fellow clergymen in Tehran. A strong government does not mean a government that interferes and intervenes in all affairs. It is not a government that limits the lives of people. This is not a strong government, said Rohani who takes office early next month. The power of the government lies in improving popular trust and ... offering services, decreasing problems, setting the stage for further development of all citizens to help meet the needs of the people and desire for change, he said in an address aired on state television. Rohani is bolstered by his popular mandate and the backing of an alliance of moderates and reformers led by former presidents Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani and Mohamed Khatami - both sidelined by hardliners under Ahmadinejad. For now the divided hardline conservative camp has given Rohani a relatively free ride, repeatedly emphasising the high turnout in the election as a victory for the system rather than a defeat for themselves and the status quo. But with a majority in parliament, strong links to the powerful Revolutionary Guards and a grip on the top jobs in state media and the security apparatus, the hardliners could confound Rohanis attempts to foster change, especially if they sense their

positions are under direct threat. During his election campaign, Rohani demanded a loosening of the security atmosphere and yesterday signalled what steps he wanted to see taken.

A strong government does not mean a government that interferes and intervenes in all affairs. It is not a government that limits the lives of people. This is not a strong government
Filtering of the Internet in Iran, stepped up after social media was used to encourage and co-ordinate large protests following the disputed 2009 presidential election, had proved ineffective, Rohani said, ttingly, on Twitter. Which important piece of news has ltering been able to black out in recent years? he asked. At the same time, he criticised state broadcaster Irib for ignoring issues inside Iran.

The state has a monopoly over terrestrial television in Iran and though satellite receivers are banned and foreign news broadcasts are often blocked, many Iranians tune in to US and Europebased channels beaming news and entertainment into the Islamic Republic. When Irib airs the birth of a panda in China but nothing about unpaid workers protesting, it is obvious that the people and youth will ignore it, Rohani tweeted. The key to whether Rohani will be able to succeed in his vision of a more open society within the Islamic system will be whether he receives the backing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei who sits at the top of Irans complex hybrid system of clerical rule combined with elements of elected representation. Facing potential political opposition at home and an economy incapacitated by tough international sanctions over Irans nuclear dispute with the West, Rohani has repeatedly urged patience. We have a lot of problems facing us. No government in the history of Iran has faced the problems that this government is facing, Rohani told the meeting of clerics. The problems cannot be solved in a matter of days or months.

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Gulf Times Thursday, July 4, 2013

ARAB WORLD

Israeli curbs hinder Palestinian economy: IMF

AFP Ramallah

he International Monetary Fund said yesterday that Israels tight restrictions hinder the growth of the Palestinian private sector, holding back the Palestinian economy. In a report following a mission to the West Bank and Gaza, the IMF said it expected growth in the Palestinian economy to slow this year to about 4.25%,

with little progress expected in cutting unemployment from the current 24%. The report said the Palestinians need to build the private sector in an economy dominated by spending by the authorities, mainly the Palestinian Authority, heavily dependent on foreign aid to surmount a chronic decit. Persistent Israeli controls and obstacles on internal movement, exports, and imports in the West Bank, as well as the virtual closure of Gaza, thwart the

private sector, the Fund said. The PA needs the continued support of the international community and co-operation of Israel, guided by the common objective of a more vibrant and robust Palestinian economy, it said. Indeed, there is no substitute for a far-reaching relaxation of Israeli restrictions needed to unshackle the private sector and thereby boost growth and employment. It also said that spending by the Palestinian Authority was

too heavily weighted in wages and pensions, and not enough in much-needed investment in education and public infrastructure , an impediment to privatesector growth. It forecast a 2013 decit for the Palestinian Authority of $1.7bn, which is not fully covered by existing donor commitments. This gap would likely be covered by further arrears accumulation and domestic bank borrowing, which has already reached prudential limits, the IMF warned.

In the Gaza Strip yesterday, a top UN official said Israels blockade has dramatically restricted the income of Palestinian families and hampered their development. We see the dramatic impact on the people of Gaza because of the closure and blockade and how the income of these people has been dramatically restricted, UN humanitarian co-ordinator for Palestinian territories James W Rowley told reporters during a visit to the enclave. These restrictions affect the

poorest the most; they impede development of a sustainable economy and increase dependency on aid, he was also quoted as saying in a statement. During his visit Palestinian farmers complained to Rowley how the blockade has affected their products. Our products are always damaged because of the closure of the terminal. Our strawberries have to go through four or five stations before being sold through Kerem Shalom, an Israeli terminal for transport-

ing goods from Gaza, farmer Ayman Subuh from Beit Lahia said. We hope your help will open markets in the West Bank for our products, Subuh told foreign diplomats, including the head of the delegation of the European Union in Palestinian territories John Gatt-Rutter, who accompanied Rowley on the visit. Israel imposed a blockade on Gaza in 2006 and strengthened it a year later, after the coastal enclave fell into the hands of the Islamist Hamas.

123 killed in three days of Iraq violence

AFP Baghdad

ttacks in Iraq killed 14 people yesterday, the latest in a wave of bloodshed mostly targeting Shia Muslims that has left 123 dead in the past three days amid fears the country is slipping back into all-out war. The surge in violence has also wounded more than 320 others, and comes as the country grapples with a protracted political standoff and months of anti-government protests, with analysts warning the deadlock is unlikely to be resolved at least until general elections due next year. No group has claimed responsibility for the killings, but Sunni militants linked to Al Qaeda often target Shias, whom they regard as apostates. In yesterdays deadliest violence, a bomb went off in the Nahrawan area of southeast Baghdad, killing seven people and wounding at least 14 others, security and medical sources said. Elsewhere, two car bombs in the main northern city of Mosul killed four people, while other attacks around Iraq left three dead. Three militants were also killed in

separate incidents. The bloodshed came after a wave of bombings and shootings across Iraq on Tuesday that killed 57 people and unrest on Monday in which 49 others died. A member of parliament said the situation is unlikely to get any better as Iraq heads next week into the holy month of Ramadan, which has seen in past years an increase in attacks. Nothing will change, Hassan Jihad, a Kurdish MP on parliaments security and defence committee, told AFP. This month will not be better because the security forces will carry out the same routine, there will be no change in their activities. And they (militants) will continue to show that they are everywhere, that they can reach any place. The worst of Tuesdays violence struck Baghdad, with at least six car bombs hitting markets and commercial areas in predominantly Shia neighbourhoods, leaving 42 people dead. Four others were killed in shootings in the capital, while bombs were also set off in the mostly-Shia southern cities of Basra, Amara and Samawa, as well

as the Sunni Arab cities of Abu Ghraib, Kirkuk, Baquba and Mosul. Tuesdays violence came a day after a series of attacks north of Baghdad left 49 people dead, among them 23 in a suicide bombing at a funeral in a Shia religious hall. The UN has said that more than 2,500 people were killed in a surge of violence from April through June. Figures compiled by AFP, meanwhile, showed the death toll in that time was more than twice that of the rst three months of the year. This is a very sustained deterioration, which is more concerning than some of the spikes in violence we have seen over recent years, said John Drake, a Britain-based analyst with risk consultancy AKE Group. Attacks in recent months have targeted a wide crosssection of Iraqi society government buildings and security forces were hit by car bombs, mosques were struck by suicide attackers, anti-Qaeda militiamen were shot dead, and Iraqis watching and playing football were killed by blasts. The surge in violence comes amid a protracted political standoff within Iraqs national unity government.

Suleiman and Abbas review an honour guard at the presidential palace in Baabda, east of Beirut, yesterday.

Palestinians neutral in Syria and Lebanon unrest: Abbas

AFP Beirut

alestinian President Mahmoud Abbas yesterday said in Beirut that Palestinian refugees are not taking sides in the Syria war or involved in the spillover of the conict in Lebanon. We are not a side in any conict or struggle that is happening here (in Lebanon) or there (in Syria, Abbas said at the start of a three-day visit to Lebanon. Abbas made the remarks following talks with President Michel Suleiman about the living conditions in Lebanon of Palestinian refugees, whose ranks have swollen

with the arrival of thousands of Palestinians from war-hit Syria. We hope that thousands of (Palestinian) refugees... in Syria and Lebanon... can be kept clear of conict and unrest, Abbas said. We reject any intervention in internal issues of any country, and we are in desperate need for everyones support and solidarity for our people, who are in search of freedom and independence. Suleiman said he and Abbas reaffirmed during their meeting the importance of ensuring that the Palestinians stay out of the Syria war and of Lebanons complex internal politics. Abbas visit comes a week after a erce battle pitting supporters of

radical Sunni cleric Sheikh Ahmed al-Assir against the Lebanese army raged in the southern city of Sidon, in which 18 troops were killed. At the same time clashes broke out pitting the army against Islamist ghters on the edges of Ain al-Helweh, the largest Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon located in Sidon. The violence was linked to the conict in neighbouring Syria, as Assir is a virulent critic of Lebanese Shia movement Hezbollah, a close ally of Syrias President Bashar alAssad. Lebanon is home to some 470,000 Palestinian refugees living in 12 camps, most of which are overcrowded, the UN says.

An estimated 65,000 Palestinians refugees have ed to Lebanon since the conict broke out in Syria in mid-March 2011. Palestinians in Lebanon are barred from some 70 professions, and prohibited from owning property. Last year, an NGO described living conditions of Palestinians in Lebanons camps as the worst of the region . The American Near East Refugee Aid group cited discrimination, isolation, poverty, joblessness, poor housing and a lack of proper schools, clinics, hospitals and sewage systems as problems affecting Palestinian refugees in Lebanon.

Syria opposition meeting in Istanbul in new bid to choose leader

Syrias main political opposition will attempt to nominate a new leader to unify a fractured coalition when members reconvene in Istanbul today, an official said. Frontrunners include the secretary general of the Syrian National Coalition Mustafa al-Sabbagh, and Ahmed Assi Jarba, representing the faction of veteran secular dissident Michel Kilo. Recognised by dozens of states and organisations as the legitimate representative of the Syrian people, the umbrella group is seeking a successor to interim president Georges Sabra, who may also seek nomination. The opposition has been rudderless after the departure in May of Ahmed Moaz al-Khatib in protest at the worlds inaction over Syrias civil war. Coalition member Samir Nashar told AFP: The names of Ahmed Assi Jarba, representing Michel Kilos faction, and Mustafa al-Sabbagh, representing the local councils, are being formally proposed as possible leaders for the coalition, but there could be surprises. Informally, the names of Burhan Ghalioun, Georges Sabra and Louay Safi are also being discussed. But of course we never know. If there is speedy agreement on the name of the new president, then I would still have some hope, Nashar said yesterday. Of course the coalitions last meeting was very difficult, and if things get blocked, then I think there will be some serious consequences that will affect both the coalition and the way it is perceived, both by its friends and its enemies. The nomination of a new chief had initially been mooted for the end of May but was postponed after eight days of talks stalled in the face of conflicting views on the future direction of the coalition. The nomination of vice presidents and other senior leaders was also on the agenda at the opposition groups general assembly, to be held over two days in the Turkish city. The coalition will also likely discuss a future peace conference dubbed Geneva 2 they have deliberated over attending, named after a meeting in the Swiss city a year ago that set up the transitional government but did not agree on the fate of Syrias President Bashar al-Assad. US Secretary of State John Kerry said on Tuesday that the US and Russia were committed to holding a peace conference on Syria but that it would likely take place after August.

Mers infection kills two more in Saudi

AFP Riyadh

Saudi man and a woman have died from the Mers virus, raising the death toll from the Sars-like infection in the kingdom to 36, the health ministry said yesterday. Three others infected with the same virus, two in Eastern Province and one in Riyadh, have been treated, the ministry said on its website. It said 62 people have been infected with the virus in the kingdom so far, down from a previous gure of 66.

The ministry did not clarify why it had lowered the number of reported cases of the disease, dubbed Middle East Respiratory Syndrome. It said the latest victims were a 75-year-old man in the eastern region of Al Ahsaa, where an outbreak began in a healthcare facility in April, and a 63-yearold woman in Riyadh, but did not say when they had died. Saudi Arabia recorded its rst Mers death in June 2012. The latest deaths bring to 42 the number of people who have died from the virus worldwide to date.

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Gulf Times Thursday, July 4, 2013

ARAB WORLD

President made many foes, mishandled economy

Reuters Cairo

n the end, the army sided with the protesters and the cruel joke was on the president: whether it was tragedy or comedy, placards reading Egypt and Mursi dont mix got the biggest laugh on Tahrir Square. The armed forces overthrew President Mohamed Mursi yesterday, declaring that he had failed the Egyptian people. A poor farm boy from the Nile Delta, made good through an American education and pious loyalty to the underground Muslim Brotherhood, Mursi was shoved blinking from obscurity a year ago to become Egypts rst freely elected president. Taking on a role that the Brotherhood had feared might be a trap sprung by a hostile bureaucracy inherited from the old

regime, Mursis personal ratings were sapped by an economy in free fall and one clumsy policy move after another. He was fatally undermined by his failure to shake a conviction among the talkative urban elites that he was the clownish pawn of a secret society of religious zealots. When, in January, he ventured a few words in English during a visit to Germany, he presented himself as a perfect fall-guy for a new breed of political comic wowing television audiences with the freedoms won in the revolution on Tahrir two years ago. Gas and alcohol dont mix, Mursi told a bemused Berlin audience, his English stilted and tapping the table for emphasis to make a point about road safety. The clip, as mocked by a satirist on prime-time TV, went viral on social media among Egypts

Anglophone liberal elite. When the shows host Bassem Youssef, who revels in being Egypts Jon Stewart , was hauled in for questioning for insulting the president, the joke just grew. When someone rst wrote Egypt and Mursi dont mix! on a placard, the slogan took off; soon millions were in the streets and a beleaguered Mursi was left fuming in rambling speeches about the personal iniquities heaped on him by the media. Samer Shehata, an expert on Islamist Arab politics at Oklahoma University, summed up the dilemma Mursis fate has exposed in Egypt, where liberals are celebrating the military toppling a democratically elected leader: Its politics are dominated by democrats who are not liberals and liberals who are not democrats, Shehata wrote in the New York Times. Mursi and his allies in the

Brotherhoods Guidance Council - Egypts liberals called them his puppeteers - also made mistakes: He has been a disastrous leader, Shehata said. Divisive, incompetent, heavy-handed and deaf to wide segments of Egyptian society who do not share his Islamist vision. Broken promises on the economy in particular, where people have suffered shrinking real incomes and lengthening lines for fuel, widened the appeal of a protest movement rooted in a liberal opposition that repeatedly lost elections to Islamists. Mursi has alienated the other forces, he didnt handle the economy well and he made many enemies - in the courts, in the army, the police, the media, said Khalil al-Anani, a senior fellow at Washingtons Middle East Institute currently in Cairo. Highlighting the media warfare , he added: He was ghting

on many fronts at the same time and that is always a very bad political tactic. He united the opposition against him. As hopes for consensus faded, Mursi ploughed on regardless, casting his opponents as bad losers who spurned his outstretched hand. His allies, meanwhile, were whittled down to Islamists at the extreme religious right. Mursi defended his legitimacy as an elected leader in a keynote speech last week before an invited audience of cheering supporters, after a rst warning from the army to embrace his opponents. Broadcast live on national television for nearly three hours, it was a mark of a stubborn failure to understand how to communicate beyond the Brotherhoods electoral base. He knows his primary audience is not opposition supporters or secular-minded urbanites, the International Crisis Groups Yasser El-Shimy said of Mursis

attempt at a new, folksy style. Mursi, 61, is a civil engineer and lecturer with a doctorate from the University of Southern California. He was raised in a poor farming village a two-hour drive north of Cairo. Thrust into the presidential race when the Brotherhoods rst-choice candidate was disqualied, he was dismissed at rst as the spare tyre but did in time grow in condence. The novice president stunned Egyptians in August when he sacked Hosni Mubaraks defence minister, a move that drew grudging respect from some critics, even in the liberal camp. Visits to China and Iran set a new tone for Egypts foreign policy. Brokering an end to a short war between Israel and Hamas won him kudos from Washington and reassured the West that Islamist rule would not end a regional order underpinned by

Egypts 1979 peace treaty with Israel. Yet no sooner had Mursi helped settle that international conict than he set off another one at home. A decree allowed the Islamists to complete a constitution free of the risk of legal challenges. Mursi then put the controversial text to referendum, ignoring violent protests. He won, but at a high cost. As his circle of friends tightened to the likes of the former armed jihadists of Gamaa Islamiya, Mursi found it ever harder to convince critics they could trust him. Mursi understood democracy as only being about elections , said Imad El-Anis, at Nottingham Trent University. He simply ignored tens of millions who did not vote for him. This week, General Sisi listened to them and agreed with the jokers. Mursi and Egypt simply did not mix, he decreed.

Anti-Mursi protesters celebrate

Groups of overjoyed revellers carry members of the security forces on their shoulders as heroes
AFP Cairo

Islamist rule fails in Egypt: Assad

AFP Damascus

n their tens of thousands, they cheered, ignited recrackers and honked horns as soon as the army announced President Mohamed Mursis rule was over, ending Egypts worst crisis since its 2011 revolt. Camped out in Cairos iconic Tahrir Square for a week, the anti-Mursi protesters let loose with an outburst of joy when military chief General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi brought them the news they all were waiting to hear. As the din rang out for over an hour in Tahrir, epicentre of the Arab Spring uprising that ousted dictator Hosni Mubarak, groups of overjoyed revellers carried members of the security forces on their shoulders as heroes. Across town near Nasr City, where Mursis Islamists had gathered in a counter-demonstration, one celebrator Omar Sherif said: Its a new historical moment. We get rid of Mursi and the Muslim Brotherhood . The protesters had been forced to wait anxiously until the announcement at around 9pm (1900 GMT), with the crowd building up slowly as day turned to night. Egypt, Egypt and Leave, Leave, they chanted outside the defence ministry building, as reports came in that the army was deploying dozens of armoured vehicles near Islamist gatherings elsewhere in the capital. With broad grins, they sang

patriotic songs they have become accustomed to hearing as the same tunes have been pumped out on state television in the weeks leading up to the crisis. Mursi deserves his end. He was the president of the Muslim Brotherhood, not of Egypt, said Cairo resident Amr Mohamed, who carried his 40-dayold daughter in his arms as he marched to the Ittihadiya presidential palace. A group of housewives put a table in the street and handed out dates and free cups of water, as celebrations erupted when a television station reported that Mursi had been placed under house arrest. Upon hearing the rumour, one elderly man kneeled down on an Egyptian ag and said Allahu Akbar. That report proved unfounded, but officials did say security forces had imposed a travel ban on Mursi and his top Islamist allies over their alleged involvement in a 2011 prison escape. Abdel Khalek Abo Risha, 56, who came to the protest from Tanta city in the Nile Delta, said: I only expect Mursi to be toppled. No other options . Nehal Serry, a woman who helped to organise the refreshments, said: This is for the sake of Egypt. We are celebrating that we are getting rid of Mursi . The gathering in Tahrir dwarfed a rally by the embattled presidents supporters in Nasr City. Come here O Sisi, Mursi isnt my president, the protesters chanted, referring to army chief and defence minister, General Sisi. The powerful military had issued a 48-hour deadline on Monday for Mursi to meet the

peoples demands , a day after millions of protesters took to the streets across the troubled country calling for him to resign. But thousands of people had gathered in Nasr City in a show of support for Mursi, despite an attack by a group of men that killed 16 of them and left 200 injured overnight. That was before the military moved in to disperse them, however, with AFP correspondents reporting they had seen dozens of armoured personnel carriers ominously heading to Islamist gatherings at Cairo University, Heliopolis, and Nasr City. A military officer said later that the Islamists are not allowed to get out of Rabaa Square today, so that they cant cause any chaos. Dozens of military armoured personnel carriers completely surrounded the square, with troops putting up barbed wire and helicopters buzzing overhead. Those inside could be heard ring birdshot, although they were outgunned and remained stuck behind the barricades. Army vehicles surrounded the protest outside the Rabaa al-Adawiya mosque in Nasr City, where Mursi supporters have been camping out for days vowing to defend his legitimacy. Its a coup detat against an elected president, said Ahmed Abulmagd in Nasr City. Mursi was betrayed. Other parts of the capital were eerily quiet, as many chose to stay at home in fear of becoming caught up in more bloodshed. Im so worried, the future of my country will be written in the next few minutes, said one taxi driver as he waited for passengers in a neighbourhood where the shops were all boarded up.

yrian President Bashar al-Assad said the massive protests against his Islamist Egyptian counterpart brought the fall of political Islam , in statements posted yesterday on his official Facebook page. What is happening in Egypt is the fall of what is known as political Islam, Assad said in an interview with Syrian state newspaper Ath-Thawra, excerpts of which were posted on the Internet. Anywhere in the world, whoever uses religion for political aims, or to benet some and not others, will fall, Assad said. You cant fool all the people all the time, let alone the Egyptian people who have a civilisation that is thousands of years old, and who espouse clear, Arab nationalist thought, he added. After a whole year, reality has become clear to the Egyptian people. The Muslim Brotherhoods performance has helped them see the lies the (movement) used at the start of the popular revolution in Egypt. The full, pre-recorded interview is due to be published today, a day after massive street protests in Egypt ended with the ouster of the Brotherhoods Mohamed Mursi. There is long-standing animosity between the Damascus regime and the Muslim Brotherhood, and membership in the group has been punishable by death in Syria since the 1980s.

Kuwait issues travel warning

Kuwait yesterday urged its citizens in Egypt to leave at the earliest and warned against travel to the country. All Kuwaitis present in Egypt must leave at the earliest due to the developments and events in various parts of the country, the official Kuna news agency cited ambassador Rasheed al-Hamad as saying. He also called on Kuwaitis to delay trips to Egypt due to the unstable situation. Kuwait becomes the first Arab country to issue a travel warning to Egypt. Thousands of Kuwaiti students are studying at Egyptian universities while tens of thousands of Kuwaiti tourists normally visit Egypt every year.

Anti-Mursi protesters wave Egyptian flags as they celebrate in front of the Republican Guard headquarters in Cairo yesterday.

Army chief turns on leader who picked him

Reuters Cairo

hen President Mohamed Mursi swept aside the ageing commanders of Egypts military a year ago and named a soft-spoken, deeply religious younger general to head the armed forces, it was a demonstration that the military was now subordinate to Egypts rst freely elected leader. Fast forward one year, and now it is the general, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who has swept aside the president. At the time of his appointment last August, the choice of Sisi, 58, seemed to suit both Mursi and the younger generation of army commanders seeking promotion after years under older generals, like 78-year-old

Mursi speaks with Sisi in this October 10, 2012 file photograph. Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, Mubaraks defence minister for two decades. The army had produced the autocrats that had ruled Egypt for the previous 60 years. It had run the country itself during the tumultuous 16 months after the revolution that toppled the last general to serve as president, Hosni Mubarak. And it had seemed reluctant to hand power to Mursi until the new president briskly dispatched Tantawi and a host of other commanders into retirement. Egyptians wanted their soldiers back in barracks, and the char-

ismatic, chisel-jawed Sisi spoke like a man who would keep them there. Over the course of the next year, Sisi warned of unrest and political divisions, but repeatedly held rm in asserting that the army should not return to politics. The armed forces loyalty is to the people and the nation, Sisi said in November when Mursis supporters and opponents clashed on the streets over plans to introduce a new constitution. Sisi nally ditched his refusal to pick sides on Monday, announcing a dramatic ultimatum that gave Mursi, the man who had chosen him, just 48 hours to agree on a power-sharing deal with his rivals. A career military man, Sisi was groomed for a leadership role after serving in top roles in the command, intelligence and diplomatic branches of the armed forces. Among his previous postings

were a stint as defence attache in Riyadh and command positions in the Sinai Peninsula which borders Israel and in the Northern Military Region which includes the second city of Alexandria. He had been carefully prepared for a high command position, said Robert Springborg, an expert on the Egyptian military based at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. Apart from his comparative youth among top ranking commanders, two other attributes made him a good t for the Islamist Mursi seeking a new generation of military leaders. In a military known for its secularism, Sisi is a devout Muslim, whose wife is said to wear the niqab full-body covering. And after a year at the US Army War College in Pennsylvania in 20052006, he was comfortable with

the US, which funds Egypts military with $1.3bn a year. Insiders in the US government and military were aware of him. He was a name that was mentioned when people talked about next generations, said Springborg. He had a favourable reputation among those who worked with him in the American military, although his course work was described as showing Islamist leanings, Springborg said. Islamic ideology penetrates Sisis thinking about political and security matters, he said, citing material Sisi produced while at the course. Steve Gerras, a retired army colonel who was Sisis faculty adviser at the college, described him to Reuters as a serious student and pious Muslim, open to the US and passionate about Egypts future.

Women protesters sexually assaulted

Close to 100 women have fallen victim to rampant sexual attacks in Cairos Tahrir Square during four days of protests against Mohamed Mursi, Human Rights Watch said yesterday. Mobs sexually assaulted and in some cases raped at least 91 women in Tahrir Square... amid a climate of impunity, HRW, which is based in New York, said in a statement. It cited figures from the Egyptian Operation Anti-Sexual Harassment/Assault, which runs a hotline for victims of sexual assault, showing that there were 46 such attacks against women on Sunday, 17 on Monday and 23 on Tuesday.

Gulf Times Thursday, July 4, 2013

21

AFRICA
DIPLOMACY INDUSTRY WILDLIFE UNREST AILING

Somali envoy holds talks on xenophobic riots

A Somali envoy has met officials in Pretoria in a bid to ease tensions stirred by recurring attacks on Somali refugees in South Africa. Somalias deputy foreign minister, Jamal Barrow, said his visit was also a fact-finding trip following recent violence which has seen looting of foreign-owned shops and the death of a Somali shopkeeper. He met Home Affairs Minister Naledi Pandor, the Deputy Police Minister Makhotso Sotyu and Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Ebrahim Ebrahim. Barrow said after the rash of meetings: I am convinced that a great deal has been done to address the problem. We found a common understanding, common action and common sentiments on how we can avert such incidents in the future, Barrow said.

Nigerian union suspends three-day fuel strike

A Nigerian oil workers union called off a threeday strike yesterday that caused long lines at petrol stations in the oil-rich West African country amid fears of fuel shortages. The strike launched on Monday by the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) over demands for better conditions was limited to petrol deliveries and did not affect oil production or exports. Long queues of motorists formed at petrol stations in many cities on Monday and Tuesday, including the economic capital Lagos, the capital Abuja and Kano, the largest city in the north. NUPENG president Achese Igwe announced the suspension of the strike after talks with government officials, oil companies and the head of the state-run oil group NNPC.

Canadian woman survives lion attack in South Africa

A Quebec woman was attacked by a lion while volunteering at a South African animal rehabilitation centre. The lion grabbed 18-year-old Lauren Fagens leg and tried to drag her into his cage on Monday at the centre in Hoedspruit, close to Kruger National Park. Fagen was feeding the lion, called Duma, when he grabbed her right leg with his paw, she told Afrikaans daily Die Burger. I couldnt believe what happened, especially because moments earlier hed held his head and body against the bars as though he wanted me to pat him, said Fagen. The feline then bit into her leg, missing an artery. I screamed a lot and everything in front of me started to fade, she said. If someone hadnt hit the lion with a stick, I couldve been hurt even more, she added.

Military claims 100 raiders killed in Nigeria

A military commander claimed yesterday that soldiers had since last week killed more than 100 attackers responsible for a deadly raid in ethnically divided central Nigeria. So far we have killed more than 100 of the attackers before we succeeded in securing the areas, Major General Henry Ayoola, who commands a task force in the region, told reporters. The military has come under major pressure over last weeks attack which killed at least 28 residents and the commanders information could not be independently verified. Violence on June 27 saw gunmen raid three villages in the remote Langtang region of Plateau state. Homes were also burnt in two other villages. Some officials have put the death toll from the attacks higher

De Klerk discharged from hospital after surgery

South Africas last apartheid president FW de Klerk was discharged from hospital yesterday following an operation to have a pacemaker fitted. De Klerk, 77, who spent the night in a Cape Town hospital, fell ill after returning early from a European trip due to his fellow Nobel peace laureates grave condition. After leaving hospital he lauded Mandelas philosophy of the necessity for reconciliation. I think his legacy will become much more alive again and it can only be good for South Africa, De Klerk told the eNCA news channel. De Klerk said he had felt light-headed while in London and visited his physician once home. It could have become much more serious. De Klerk released Mandela after 27 years of apartheid prison in 1990.

Remains of Mandelas children are exhumed

This unseemly squabbling at a delicate time has put a very uncomplimentary spotlight on his relatives
AFP Pretoria

he remains of three of Nelson Mandelas children were exhumed yesterday to be returned to his childhood village following a bitter family feud over the ailing anti-apartheid heros nal resting place. The public row comes as the 94-year-old former political prisoner, who became South Africas rst black president, lies critically ill in what is now his fourth week in hospital. In dramatic scenes that unfolded in front of the worlds media, a sheriff forced open the gates to the estate of Mandelas grandson Mandla with a pickaxe to allow three hearses to enter the property, where the disputed remains were moved in 2011, allegedly without the familys consent. It came hours after a court in the nearby city of Mthatha ordered Mandla, 39, to immediately move the graves back to Qunu about 30km away, where Mandela grew up. Judge Lusindiso Pakade described the grandsons actions as scandalous . The exhumation has been concluded now. The remains are being transported to the mortuary in Mthatha, said police spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Mzukisi Fatyela. They will be kept there until the burial tomor-

Lehlohonolo Nkosi, 7, carries a poster of former South African president Nelson Mandela as she walks with her mother, Flora as they leave the Medi-Clinic Heart Hospital, where Mandela is being treated,. added, describing the squabbles as distasteful . The family is also seeking criminal charges of grave tampering against Mandla. Previously the grandson has argued that Mandela should be buried at his birthplace Mvezo, where Mandla holds court as clan chief. The disputed remains are of Mandelas eldest son Thembekile, who died in 1969, his nine-month-old infant Makaziwe, who died in 1948, and Mandlas own father Makgatho, who died in 2005. The grandsons spokesman Freddy Pilusa insisted that Mandla was not opposed in principle to returning the remains to Qunu. He has never been against repatriation of those remains, Pilusa said. Mandela, who led the struggle against white-minority rule in South Africa, became president after the countrys rst multiracial elections in 1994, following 27 years in apartheid prisons. He retired from public life in 2004. Rather than accept the hereditary title of chief of Mvezo himself, Mandela chose his grandson to take up the post in the Eastern Cape six years ago. Mandla has since overseen changes including a new brick-paved road to the village. A museum currently comprises a tiny outdoor display on Nelson Mandela. But an impressive collection of tourism-oriented thatched buildings, including a cultural centre and accommodation, is currently under construction with state funding, alongside the offices of the traditional council and a conference centre. South Africas National Prosecuting Authority said yesterday they would make a decision on whether to press grave tampering charges against Mandla after police have concluded their probe.

A hearse arrives at Mvezo resort to collect the remains of former South African president Nelson Mandelas children yesterday. row . Mandela has expressed his wish to be buried at his rural homestead at Qunu, and his daughters want to have the childrens remains returned so they can be buried together. More than a dozen relatives of the revered leader, including his wife Graca Machel, two of his daughters and several grandchildren, took Mandla to court over the dispute. According to court documents submitted by the family on June 28 to support their case, Mandela is in a perilous condition on life support, local media reported. The anticipation of his impending death is based on real and substantial grounds. The applicants are desirous of burying their father and committing him to the earth in which his descendants remains lie, according to court papers quoted by the Mail & Guardian and other media. Political analysts said that rivalry over control of the Mandela legacy could be behind the court tussle. The legal battles underline broader divisions within the family, said Daniel Silke, director of the Political Futures Consultancy. They may well be related to nancial gains and the exploitation of the Mandela name, he

S Africas AMCU union refuses to sign mining stability agreement

Reuters Pretoria

Mali party calls for pre-poll meet

DPA Bamako

outh Africas Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) refused to sign a government-brokered stability pact yesterday aimed at defusing tensions in the mining industry ahead of tough wage talks. The mining companies have been shaken by unrest for the past 18 months, which is rooted in a turf war between AMCU and the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), a political ally of the ruling African National Congress party. The ANC is keen to bring stability back to the sector ahead of elections next year, but the failure to get AMCU on board at this stage means unrest could are again. Mines minister Susan Shabangu said she believed the industry remained, on the right track. This is part of the building

blocks for stability in the mining industry . Gideon du Plessis, the general secretary of the Solidarity trade union which represents mostly skilled workers, said AMCU wanted a set of preconditions to be met before it would sign. It is clear is there is a problem in the mining industry, and from our point of view AMCU is the problem. If AMCU is not prepared to commit itself unconditionally to peace and stability, then they are the problem, he said. AMCU officials made no comment after leaving the meeting. Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe, the governments point man on the unfolding mining crisis, played down the signicance of AMCUs not signing, telling journalists the union wanted to consult its members rst before signing. Investors are not interested in this document. They are interested in a stable mining industry which operates within

the framework of the law, he said after the meeting.

Investors are not interested in this document. They are interested in a stable mining industry which operates within the framework of the law
Questions hang over the prospects for the latest government effort to bring peace to the shafts after an earlier pact was roundly ignored and as worker militancy rises, commodity prices fall and company margins are squeezed. More than 50 people were killed in mining unrest last year, which cost gold and platinum producersbns of dollars in lost output and led to downgrades of South African sovereign debt ratings. President Jacob Zuma and the government were widely criticised for their handling of the unrest, in which police shoot dead 34

striking miners in a single incident at the Marikana mine of platinum producer Lonmin. The industry is now on edge on a range of fronts. AMCU has emerged as the dominant union in the platinum belt - home to 80% of known reserves, a trillion dollar resource and its members could down tools again at Lonmin over its failure to reach a recognition agreement with the company. Wage talks in the gold sector start next week, and NUM is seeking a 60% hike for entry-level workers, which would bring their basic wage to 8,000 rand ($810) a month. Ination is currently running at 5.6%. Not to be outdone, AMCU, has made a living wage its battle cry under its charismatic president, Joseph Mathunjwa. The union says it is seeking an increase of 150% to 12,500 rand. It has made a similar demand to Anglo American Platinum , the worlds biggest producer of the precious metal.

Pretoria looks to sell some of $1bn rhino horn stockpile

Reuters Pretoria

outh Africa is seeking permission for a one-off sale of some of its $1bn stockpile of rhino horn to nance conservation and potentially ood a thriving black market, its environment minister said yesterday. Environment Minister Edna Molewa told reporters that South Africa, home to 73% of the worlds

rhinos, would seek permission for the sale at the next major meeting of CITES, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, in 2016. South Africa cannot continue to be held hostage by syndicates who are slaughtering our rhinos, she said. South Africa is home to more than 20,000 rhinos but is set this year to lose nearly 800 of them to poachers. Poaching is increasing at such

a rate that by the time of the meeting, the number of rhinos being killed or dying each year will exceed the number being born. The biggest market for illegal rhino horn in recent years has been Vietnam, where the product is sold in pharmacies and over the Internet at about $65,000 a kg, making it more expensive than gold. At this price, South Africas stockpile of 16,400 kg would be worth just over $1bn.

We dont believe that Vietnam satises any of the conditions that would be necessary to participate in legal trade of rhino horn, said Tom Milliken, head of the rhino and elephant project for the wildlife trade monitoring network Traffic. Rhino horn has been used for centuries in Chinese medicine, where it was ground into powder to treat a range of maladies including rheumatism, gout and even possession by devils.

Up until about 2010, only a handful were poached, but the number shot up when a rumour spread that rhino horn had cured a Vietnamese ministers relative of cancer. Recent research on consumer behaviour suggests that there is a latent demand for rhino horn in Vietnam and it is unclear whether a sustainable legal supply would be able to satisfy it, said Alona Rivord of the conservation group WWE International.

alis largest political party called yesterday for an urgent meeting of presidential candidates after the head of the electoral commission expressed doubts that this months polls would be free, fair and inclusive. Given the known challenges inbuilt in the process, the government should call a meeting with all the candidates and political parties to dene the rules and avoid post-electoral challenges to the result, said Iba Ndiaye, interim president of the Alliance for Democracy in Mali. Mamadou Diamoutani, the West African nations top electoral official, said Tuesday that numerous aws in the electoral process could lead to the results of the July 28 polls being contested. Mali is preparing to hold the elections after seeing a coup last year and an insurrection by Islamist rebels. France sent in troops in January to stop their advance on Bamako. The United Nations launched a peacekeeping mission Monday to allow France to withdraw most of its soldiers and help the interim government prepare for the presidential election, which 28 candidates are contesting, including four former prime ministers and one woman. Currently, the big chal-

lenge is the distribution of 6,867,443 voters cards, Diamoutani said. We have four weeks to do it. That job alone is tremendously difcult, given that 800,000 people are displaced or have become refugees.

The West African nations top electoral official has said that numerous flaws in the electoral process could lead to the results of the July 28 polls being contested
An estimated 308,000 people aged 18 and 19 have been disenfranchised because voter registration was done in 2010, and they had not reached legal voting age then, he said. Some political parties have argued that awed elections would be better than none. The elected president will at least be more credible than the transitional one governing at the moment, said Younous Dicko of the Coordination of Patriotic Organizations in Mali, an alliance of parties and associations that supported the March 2012 military coup, which ushered in an interim government. Campaigning is to begin officially Sunday, the day after a state of emergency was due to be lifted. Malis constitutional court has approved 28 candidates, including four former prime ministers and one woman, for presidential elections set for July 28.

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Gulf Times Thursday, July 4, 2013

AMERICA
HOLIDAY TRIAL COURT CRIME POLITICS

Zimmerman was versed in Stand Your Ground law

Former neighbourhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman was versed in Floridas Stand Your Ground self-defence law before he shot and killed unarmed black teenager Trayvon Martin, despite his previous claim to the contrary, jurors at Zimmermans murder trial were told yesterday. The blow to Zimmermans credibility came after Seminole County Judge Debra Nelson ruled jurors should hear about the defendants criminal justice studies because it was relevant evidence. Nelson overruled strenuous objections from Zimmermans lead lawyer in the racially charged case, which captivated much of the US in 2012 because of the self-defence argument.

Man fit for trial in Ohio kidnap case, says judge

A former school bus driver accused of holding three young women captive for a decade in his Cleveland, Ohio home is competent to stand trial, a US judge ruled on Tuesday. Ariel Castro, 52, could face the death penalty if convicted of aggravated murder for terminating the pregnancies of one of his victims by starving and beating her. As the brief hearing came to a close, he asked the judge if he could have contact with my child - meaning the six-yearold girl who was born in captivity. I wont be allowing that, Cuyahoga County Judge Michael Russo said in a live video feed of the proceedings.

New York murder rate drops 25% over 2012

The murder rate in New York fell by a quarter over the first half of 2013, compared to the year before, police said yesterday. A total of 155 murders were committed between January and June 2013, compared to 206 during the same period of 2012 - a decrease of 25.4%, according to the most recent statistics. In 1960, the murder rate was 5.0 per 100,000, but it rose over the next 30 years, peaking at 30 homicides per 100,000 residents in 1990. That year, 2,262 people were murdered. In 2012, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg congratulated the city for achieving the lowest murder rate - 419 over 12 months - in 50 years.

US Senate bill could slash illegal immigration by 50%

A US Senate-passed immigration bill would significantly reduce the flow of illegal immigrants, but increased US-Mexico border security costs would eat into projected budget savings, the Congressional Budget Office said yesterday. The CBO concluded that the bill, which would double the number of federal agents along the border, would reduce the number of people entering the US from Mexico without documentation by one-third to one-half. The Democratic-led Senate passed the sweeping immigration bill at the end of June, but the legislations fate is unclear in the Republicancontrolled House of Representatives.

Vehicles wait to cross the Chesapeake Bay Bridge on US Routes 50 and 301 yesterday near Sandy Point State Park in Arnold, Maryland. The bridge is the main route from the Washington, DC area to beaches located along the Delmarva Peninsula and one of the most heavily trafficked routes on the Fourth of July weekend.

Snowden saga: Bolivia furious over diversion of Morales jet

Bolivia enraged by plane incident; Austria says fugitive was not on Morales plane
Reuters Vienna/Geneva

olivia yesterday accused the US of trying to kidnap its president, Evo Morales, after his plane was denied permission to y over some European countries on suspicion he was taking fugitive former US spy agency contractor Edward Snowden to Latin America. Snowden was not on the plane when it landed in Vienna, an Austrian official said. The US has been trying to get its hands on Snowden since he revealed details of its secret surveillance programmes last month. Snowden is believed to be stranded in the transit lounge of a Moscow airport. Bolivia said the incident, in which the plane was denied permission to y over France and Portugal before making a stop in Vienna, was an act of aggression and a violation of international law. The White House declined to comment on the Bolivian assertion. The furore was the latest twist in a saga which has raised debate over the balance between privacy rights and national security. Revelations of US surveillance on European countries have also strained transatlantic relations. France yesterday said free-trade talks between the European Union and the US should be delayed by two weeks given tensions over media reports, stemming from the Snowden case, that Washington is spying on the 28-nation bloc. The Bolivian plane was taking Morales home from an energy conference in Moscow when it landed at Vienna airport on Tuesday evening. Austrian Deputy Chancellor Michael Spindelegger said Morales personally denied that Snowden was aboard his jet and agreed to a voluntary inspection. Based on this invitation

from Bolivia a colleague boarded the plane, looked at everything and there was no one else on board, Spindelegger told reporters. However, Bolivian Defence Minister Ruben Saavedra said Morales plane was not searched because Morales had refused Austrian authorities entry. Bolivias ambassador to the UN, Sacha Llorenti Soliz, expressed outrage at the chain of events. Were talking about the president on an official trip after an ofcial summit being kidnapped, he said in Geneva. We have no doubt that it was an order from the White House. By no means should a diplomatic plane with the president be diverted from its route and forced to land in another country. The ambassador said Bolivias anger was directed at the US and the countries that prevented the plane from ying over them. There is no problem with relations with Austria. On the contrary, we are grateful that we were able to land there, he told Reuters. The plane eventually left about noon and by mid-afternoon had arrived at Spains Canary Islands for a refuelling stop. But the incident was not likely to be forgotten quickly. Llorenti said Bolivia, which is part of a Venezuelan-led leftist alliance that has challenged US political and economic inuence

in Latin America, would complain to the UN. Leaders of the South American bloc Unasur, which promotes trade and cooperation among their governments, demanded an explanation for what they called unfriendly and unjustiable acts . A Brazilian government ofcial said Unasur would hold a ministerial meeting in Lima today to discuss the diversion of Morales plane. In a statement from Perus government, which holds the groups presidency, Unasur expressed outrage and indignation that the plane was not allowed to land in Portugal and France. Bolivia is among more than a dozen countries where Snowden has sought asylum and Morales has said he would consider granting the American refuge. The 30-year-old Snowden, who worked for the National Security Agency as a contractor in Hawaii, has been trying since June 23 to nd a country that will offer him refuge from prosecution in the US on espionage charges. But his options have narrowed since he arrived in Moscow from Hong Kong with no valid travel documents after the US revoked his passport. Five countries have rejected granting Snowden asylum, seven have said they would consider a request if made on their soil, and eight said they had either not made a decision or not received a request.

Bolivian President Evo Morales talks to journalists yesterday at the airport of Schwechat, near Vienna. Morales angrily denied any wrongdoing after his plane was diverted to Vienna over suspicion fugitive US intelligence leaker Edward Snowden was on board.

Stem-cell therapy wipes out HIV in two patients

Reuters London

wo men with HIV have been off Aids drugs for several months after receiving stem-cell transplants for cancer that appear to have cleared the virus from their bodies, researchers reported yesterday. Both patients, who were treated in Boston and had been on long-term drug therapy to control their HIV, received stemcell transplants after developing lymphoma, a type of blood cancer. Since the transplants, doctors have been unable to nd any evidence of HIV infection, Timothy Henrich of Harvard Medical

School and Brigham and Womens Hospital in Boston told an International Aids Society conference in Kuala Lumpur. While it is too early to say for sure that the virus has disappeared from their bodies altogether, one patient has now been off antiretroviral drug treatment for 15 weeks and the other for seven weeks. Last July Henrich rst reported that the two men had undetectable levels of HIV in their blood after their stem-cell treatment, but at that time they were still taking medicines to suppress HIV. Using stem-cell therapy is not seen as a viable option for widespread use, since it is extremely expensive, but the latest cases could open new avenues for

ghting the disease, which infects about 34mn people worldwide. The latest cases resemble that of Timothy Ray Brown, known as the Berlin patient , who became the rst person to be cured of HIV after receiving a bone marrow transplant for leukaemia in 2007. There are, however, important differences. While Browns doctor used stem cells from a donor with a rare genetic mutation, known as CCR5 delta 32, which renders people virtually resistant to HIV, the two Boston patients received cells without this mutation. Dr. Henrich is charting new territory in HIV eradication research, Kevin Robert Frost, chief executive officer of the Foundation for AIDS Research, which

funded the study, said in a statement. Scientic advances since HIV was rst discovered more than 30 years ago mean the virus is no longer a death sentence and the latest antiretroviral Aids drugs can control the virus for decades. But many people still do not get therapy early enough, prompting the World Health Organisation to call for faster rollout of medicines after patients test positive. Indian generics companies are leading suppliers of HIV drugs to Africa and to many other poor countries. Major Western HIV drugmakers include Gilead Sciences, Johnson & Johnson and ViiV Healthcare, which is majority-owned by GlaxoSmithKline.

Latin America leaders angered

Latin American leaders slammed European governments yesterday for diverting Bolivian President Evo Morales plane on rumours it was carrying a wanted former US spy agency contractor, adding a new diplomatic spat to the Edward Snowden saga. Morales was returning from Moscow on Tuesday when France and Portugal abruptly banned his plane from entering their airspace due to suspicions that Snowden, wanted by Washington for leaking secrets, was onboard. Italy and Spain also banned the Bolivian plane from their skies. The unusual treatment of the Bolivian military aircraft touched a sensitive nerve in the region, which has a history of US-backed coups. Several furious presidents from across the region rallied behind Morales and protests erupted on the streets of Bolivia.

Ex-Tiffany exec charged in jewellery theft

AFP New York

former executive of iconic New York jewellery store Tiffany was arrested on Tuesday for stealing more than $1mn worth of valuables which she later resold,

federal prosecutors said. Ingrid Lederhaas-Okun, Tiffanys former vice-president of product development, swiped 165 items of jewellery between November 2012 and February 2013, when she left the rm. In her role as vice-president of product development, Lederhaas-Okun had the authority

to take items of Tiffany jewellery off-site to show to potential manufacturers to determine how much they would cost to produce. The 46-year-old later sold the haul - which included gold and diamond encrusted bracelets, platinum and gold earrings and gold rings - to another jeweler for

$1.3mn, claiming the property as her own. Lederhaas-Okuns alleged crimes were unearthed in February after she was red from the company and officials realised a vast inventory of items was missing. Lederhaas-Okun denied any wrongdoing after her arrest.

Statue of Liberty to reopen today

DPA New York

Storm forecasts cloud progress against blaze

Reuters Prescott, Arizona

he iconic Statue of Liberty in the New York harbour is set to welcome back visitors beginning today, the US Independence Day holiday and the height of the summer tourist season. Closed since 2011 and reopened just the day before Hurricane Sandy hit on October 29, 2012, the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Islands were shut down again for repairs after the storm. The statue itself suffered no damage from Sandy, but several structures on the two islands, including landing docks, were ruined. The National Park Service decided last month to reopen the statue to visitors after repairs were completed and ferry services from Lower Manhattan and New Jersey to Liberty and Ellis Islands was restored. New York media said cruise operators reported that ticket sales for visitors to the statue have been strong. Visitors who want the added experience of visiting the statues crown will have to wait for weeks because those tours are sold out.

Flowers, American flags and mementos adorn the outside fence of Station 7 yesterday in Prescott, Arizona. Nineteen firefighters based out of Station 7 died battling a fast-moving wildfire near Yarnell, Arizona on June 30.

ireghters laboured yesterday to extend their grip on a smouldering but still potentially lethal blaze in Arizona that killed 19 members of an elite hotshots crew in the deadliest US wildre tragedy in eight decades. Strong, erratic winds that earlier had whipped the lightning-sparked re into a deadly frenzy abated for a second day, helping re crews make headway in subduing the ames, ofcials for the reghting command team told Reuters. By sundown on Tuesday, a force of some 600 reghters had man-

aged to achieve their rst measure of solid enclosure around the res perimeter, estimated at 8%, they said. Weve got containment, its limited containment, but they feel very good about that, incident command spokesman Dennis Godfrey said. There is a sense of condence. But he cautioned that plenty of dense, drought-parched scrub oak and chaparral was left unburned on the ground, providing ample fuel for creeping embers and hot spots to reignite. And the likelihood of heavy, lateafternoon thunderstorms remained in the regions weather forecasts, posing another wild card in re-

ghting efforts. Powerful wind bursts and lightning unleashed by such storms could quickly set off a renewed restorm, officials said. Gale-force winds from a thunderstorm cell that moved through the area on Sunday are believed to have caused the blaze, fanning ames that abruptly changed course and overwhelmed a group of reghters before they could take cover. The deaths of the 19 men, members of a specially trained outt called the Granite Mountain Hotshots, marked the greatest loss of life from a US wildland blaze since at least 25 men died battling the Griffith Park re of 1933 in Los Angeles, records show.

Gulf Times Thursday, July 4, 2013

23

ASEAN
Royalist party seeks more seats in election
Agencies Phnom Penh

ambodias royalist Funcinpec Party expects to win more parliamentary seats in a general election on July 28, the partys president, Princess Norodom Arun Rasmey said yesterday. Addressing partys activists at the capitals Freedom Park on the seventh day of the one-month election campaign, the princess said the party adhered to the leadership style of late King Norodom Sihanouk and vowed to protect the monarchy, territorial integrity and maintain peace. I do hope that our party will gain more seats in the forthcoming election, said Arun Rasmey, who is the youngest daughter of late King Norodom Sihanouk. Funcinpec Party was rst founded by Sihanouk in 1981. Sihanouk s son, Prince Norodom Ranariddh, led the party to electoral victory in the 1993 UNTACsponsored election, Xinhua reported. At that time, Ranariddh was co-prime minister in a twoprime ministers government with Hun Sen for four years until factional ghting in 1997 resulted in Ranariddh being ousted.

An Acehnese woman and a child walk past damaged houses in Blang Mancung yesterday following an earthquake on Tuesday.

Girl commits suicide after Facebook prank

DPA Hanoi

Scramble to reach quake survivors as toll hits 22

More than 200 people were also injured in Acehs remote, mountainous interior when the strong 6.1-magnitude quake struck the north of Sumatra island on Tuesday, flattening buildings and triggering landslides
AFP Jakarta

n 18-year-old Vietnamese girl committed suicide by drinking pesticide after classmates edited images of her face onto photos of women in revealing outts and posted them online, police said yesterday. The woman had threatened to kill herself if the photos were not taken off the social networking website Facebook, local media reported, quoting a statement she gave after being taken to a Hanoi hospital. The whole class saw those pictures. I was angry and made a fuss, but the class just teased me more, the note said. She died four days later on Monday. We have received the petition from her family to investigate the case, said a police official who declined to be named. Anyone who violated the law will be punished.

escuers battled through landslides and blocked roads yesterday to reach survivors from an earthquake in Indonesias Aceh province that has killed at least 22 people, including several children who died when a mosque collapsed. More than 200 people were also injured in Acehs remote, mountainous interior when the strong 6.1-magnitude quake struck the north of Sumatra island on Tuesday, attening buildings and triggering landslides. The quake, which struck at

a shallow depth of just 10 kilometres, has sparked panic in the natural disaster-prone region where more than 170,000 people were killed by the quaketriggered tsunami of 2004. In Blang Mancung village, Central Aceh district, at least six children were killed when a mosque collapsed during the religious book reading session. Rescuers dug all night with an excavator through the rubble of the mosque looking for more children believed to be trapped but no more bodies had as yet been found, an AFP reporter at the scene said. Most houses in the village had collapsed and residents were digging through the remains of the buildings with their bare hands to search for their belongings, the reporter said. Bodies of the dead were laid out and covered in blankets at a makeshift emergency health post in the village. This is the biggest earthquake weve ever had here,

Indonesian officials evacuate an injured child by plane in Banda Aceh. said Subhan Sahara, head of the districts disaster agency. People are still frightened, especially after the aftershocks last night. Nobody dared to stay at home. Everyone slept on the roads or in car parks. The earthquake triggered many landslides. People could not get out of the area because of fallen trees and mounds of earth blocking roads. The main hospital in the district was overwhelmed and tents had been set up outside to treat the flood of patients, he said, adding that food and water were in short supply.

Military, police and local government officials were trying to head to affected areas by ground and in aircraft but some roads were blocked by landslips, the national disaster agency said. The agency dispatched a helicopter from neighbouring Riau province to assist in rescue efforts, while an air force plane was also deployed to assess the damage. So far 22 people died, 210 people were injured, and thousands of buildings and homes were damaged in the quake, disaster agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said. The casualties were spread over the two worst-hit districts of Central Aceh and Bener Meriah, he said. Scores of people were being treated at hospitals across the region. In Bener Meriah, about 300 people camped out overnight in open spaces, such as football fields, as the area was hit by strong aftershocks, said Fauzi, an official from the local disaster agency.

He said many were in desperate need of food. There were strong aftershocks last night and people didnt want to go back home, so they stayed in the open overnight, but we dont have enough tents, said the official, who like many Indonesians goes by one name. We have a power outage now and communications are unreliable, he added. People ran outside in the provincial capital Banda Aceh as the quake - some 320 kilometres away - shook houses, and in Medan city to the south of the province. Aceh, on the northern tip of Sumatra, is regularly hit by quakes. The huge quaketriggered tsunami of 2004 not only killed tens of thousands in the province, but also many in countries around the Indian Ocean. In April last year an 8.6-magnitude quake struck 431 kilometres off Banda Aceh, prompting an Indian Oceanwide tsunami alert.

Cambodian jungle graveyard mysties experts

AFP Phnom Penh

ver a hundred burial jars and a dozen coffins arranged on a ledge in remote Cambodian jungle have for centuries held the bones - and secrets - of a mysterious people who lived alongside with the Angkor era. Why the bones were placed in jars on a cliff some 100 metres high in the Cardamom Mountains, or indeed whose remains they are, has long puzzled experts. For seven years Nancy Beavan, an archaeologist who specialises in carbon dating, has been looking for an answer, painstakingly piecing together clues left by the enigmatic people at 10 sites dotted across the area in southwestern Cambodia. Tests show some of the bone fragments are six centuries old, according to the New Zealander. Why put these bones in jars? This was a practice that was not observed in any other part of Cambodia, she said. Ten jars, dating from the 15th to the 17th centuries, and twelve coffins - the earliest from the

This handout photo released by New Zealands University of Otago show Nancy Beavan, senior research fellow at the university, holding a skull next to broken jars at the Cardamom Mountains in Koh Kong province, southwest of Phnom Penh. 14th century - have been found at the Phnom Pel site. Some are believed to have come from the kingdom of Siam, now Thailand. Others, a minority, date back to the powerful kingdom of Angkor, which ruled for six centuries and built the famous Angkor Wat temple complex further to the north. But experts remain mystied as to why the bones were preserved in a Buddhist country where cremation is - and was - a key religious custom. Tep Sokha, an expert in Cambodian ceramics, said the jars are of the highest ceramic quality

and the number indicates that this was a sacred and widely practiced ritual. If villagers living near the cliff were aware of the jars, they have stayed away, allowing foreigners to study the relics at their leisure. And the whole study has been left to Beavans team. They are picking through the evidence, often left to guess the origins of the artifacts they nd including 12 coffins lined up on a rock that are so small they could not even hold a childs body but which contain the bones of men and women. These coffins are unique. There is no other example in the history of Cambodia. They are relics that have never been disturbed, Beavan adds. Among her theories is that the bones belonged to Khmer tribesmen who lived deep in the mountains far from the inuence of the Angkor kingdom, which spanned Southeast Asia from the ninth to 15th centuries, but perhaps failed to reach this corner. They have nothing to do with the inhabitants of the Kingdom of Angkor but lived in his shadow, she said. Who knows, maybe they were also slaves eeing the Angkor kingdom.

The search for answers took a leap forward in 2005 when sherman off Koh Kong province found the same Siamese jars in their nets, prompting the discovery of a 15th century wreck containing ivory, Chinese porcelain and Siamese and Angkorian jars. The discovery provided the rst scientic evidence of how Siamese jars could have been brought to the Cardamoms. Beavan believes the ship came from the Siamese empire to trade jars for ivory and precious wood. Despite the importance of the nd, conservation remains a problem. In Koh Kong, hundreds of objects salvaged from the wreck have been left in a back room of the Provincial Court since 2007, despite Cambodia being one of the few Asian countries to have signed up the UN Convention on the preservation of underwater cultural heritage. But the discovery has led local authorities to consider establishing a museum for the artifacts which would preserve a long-neglected part of the nations heritage. They hope it could become a valuable tourist attraction and

spur proposals to protect the region. In 2012, the province recorded 100,000 local and foreign tourists, drawn to the beauty of the Cardamom Mountains, home to stunning waterfalls and one of the regions most biodiverse forests. For all its natural bounty, the Cardamom region has seen some species gradually disappear as its precious wood forests fall prey to loggers and hunters plundering its rare species. For two years, Unesco has been building a case to list the mountain range as a key biosphere reserve . The ship wreck, the sacred jars and the coffins add a cultural dimension that could boost the case for listing the area. To do nothing would be a crime, according to Anne Lemaistre, the director of Unesco in Cambodia. Time may be running out with many industrial projects, some Chinese-linked, tearing through the heart of the forest and compounding the damage to the ecosystem caused by hunters and loggers. The scale of development in the Cardamom scares us a little, added Lemaistre.

24

Gulf Times Thursday, July 4, 2013

AUSTRALASIA/EAST ASIA
RECORD PRICE TO BE TAXED GRAFT CRACKDOWN ALL CLEAR CARROT AND STICK ROUTINE

Rare Chinese stamp sells for $890,000 at auction

One of Chinas rarest stamps sold for HK$6.9mn (US$890,000) at auction in Hong Kong, the auctioneers said yesterday. With just 32 recorded copies, the Qing Dynasty 1897 Red Revenue Small One Dollar stamp is Chinas rarest regularly-issued stamp, Interasia Auctions said in a press release. The bright red stamp, symbolising luck and good fortune in Chinese culture, is rare because the characters Qing Dynasty postal service, one dollar were considered too small, prompting the printing of a second version. A pair of rare stamps bearing an accidentally inverted picture of Chinese nationalist leader Sun Yat-sen sold for more than $700,000 in Hong Kong last October.

Sea Shepherd loses bid for charity status in Australia

Militant anti-whaling organisation Sea Shepherd Australia suffered a blow to its fundraising hopes yesterday when a court rejected a bid for donations to be tax-deductible. The Federal Court of Australia turned down an appeal from Sea Shepherd for charity status under tax laws, ruling the object of its campaigns were the Japanese whalers, not the care of animals. Sea Shepherd was challenging earlier rulings that it was not entitled to the tax concession granted to charitable organisations. But the Federal Court ordered the non-profit group to pay costs, rulings its activities did not constitute the provision of short-term direct care to animals as required under tax law.

China official sacked after corruption allegations

A senior Chinese regional official has been sacked, state media said yesterday, after his mistresses reportedly accused him of bribetaking and nepotism Wang Suyi, 52, has been removed from his post as chief of the United Front Work Department in the northern region of Inner Mongolia, an agency that liaises among the Party and non-Communist organisations, the official Xinhua news agency reported. He is under investigation for serious disciplinary violations - usually a euphemism for corruption - Xinhua said. Wangs mistresses accused him of taking 100mn yuan ($16.3mn) in bribes, and of nepotism involving about 30 relatives.

Two N-reactors can stay online: Japan watchdog

Japans nuclear watchdog said yesterday the only two reactors currently working in the country can stay online for now, even without meeting strict new safety standards intended to prevent a repeat of the Fukushima disaster. The Nuclear Regulatory Authority concluded that Units 3 and 4 at the Oi nuclear plant in western Japan are not in the condition that would pose immediate safety concerns even without being inspected under the new safety rules. That ruling means operator Kansai Electric Power can keep the two units online until September, when they will undergo scheduled safety checks and be re-examined under the new rules, the authority said.

China offers bounty for Xinjiang most-wanted

Authorities in Chinas restive Xinjiang region have issued a most wanted list and offered rewards for tipoffs, a government website said yesterday, continuing the forceful official response to recent unrest ahead of a sensitive anniversary. After two violent incidents left at least 35 people dead last week, China has boosted security in the regional capital Urumqi. We hope more people will help us with information and leave terrorists with no place to hide, the Xinjiang official news website Tianshannet quoted senior police information official Li Li as saying. Rights groups say the unrest stems from discrimination against ethnic minority Uighurs by the majority Han Chinese.

Dotcom and Key trade barbs over NZ spy law

AFP Wellington

N Korea restores hotline to South

AFP Seoul

egaupload founder Kim Dotcom yesterday accused New Zealand Prime Minister John Key of lying when he appeared in parliament to denounce plans to let intelligence agencies spy on local residents. Dotcom was giving evidence to a select committee chaired by Key, which is examining a bill to reform intelligence services following revelations that government agencies illegally spied upon the Internet mogul last year. It was the rst face-to-face meeting between Dotcom and Key, whose government signed off on the businessmans arrest by armed police last year for alleged online piracy. Wearing his trademark all-black outt, Dotcom arrived at parliament in a limousine after ying from Auckland to Wellington by helicopter for the hearing. He began by admonishing Key for only giving him 15 minutes to testify, rather than the 25 he had been promised. He went on to accuse the prime minister of bbing when he (Key) denied any knowledge of Dotcom prior to his arrest in Auckland in January last year as part of a massive US investigation. You know I know... why are you turning red, prime minister? Dotcom asked Key, prompting the prime minister to re back at the portly tech guru: Why are you sweating? Outside the hearing room, Dotcom said the privacy concerns raised by his evidence were more important than any personal issues between Key and himself. His voice at times shaking with emotion, Dotcom testied that he had been the victim of massive overreach by the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) and the proposed reforms would make it easier to abuse surveillance powers. We should avoid blindly following the US into the dark ages of surveillance abuse, he said, referring to US intelligence leaker Ed-

Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom speaks to a parliamentary committee at Bowen House in Wellington yesterday. ward Snowdens revelation of a vast surveillance programme to covertly collect phone and Internet data. Under existing laws the GCSB is supposed to focus on foreign intelligence and cyber-security, and is explicitly forbidden from spying on New Zealand citizens or residents. But it was revealed last year that it spied on Dotcom, a German national with New Zealand residency, before his arrest. As a result Dotcom is suing the spy agency and the government has moved to close what it described as a technical loophole that limited the operations of its main spy agency. Key denies it gives spies greater powers, saying it allows the GCSB to co-operate more closely with agencies such as the police and military in an increasingly complex cyber-security environment. He said that under the reforms, the GCSB would share information between government agencies in the same way Dotcoms now defunct Megaupload le-sharing site once allowed Internet users to share les. Dotcom rejected the analogy. On Megaupload you would share a le, on the GCSB spy cloud you share private information on citizens that you dont have any right to access, thats the big difference, he said.

orth Korea yesterday restored its hotline with South Korea and announced it would let the Souths businessmen visit a shuttered joint industrial zone, Seoul officials said. The move came hours after dozens of South Korean rms threatened to withdraw from the zone at Kaesong in the North, complaining they had fallen victim to political bickering between the two rivals. The hotline was restored this afternoon after North Korea accepted our request to normalise it, a South Korean unication ministry official said on condition of anonymity. The move followed months of high tensions and threats by Pyongyang of nuclear war. As tensions began easing last month, the North restored the hotline across the border truce village of Panmunjom for talks on setting up a high-level meeting to discuss the fate of the zone. But the line was switched off again after plans for the talks collapsed due to disputes over protocol. Operations at the Kaesong complex just north of the border ground to a halt soon after the North banned entry by the Souths factory managers and other officials on April 3. About a week later, Pyongyang pulled all its own workers out. In an unexpected change of course yesterday, the North sent a message to the South saying South Korean businessmen and managers would be allowed to visit the complex. It said the businessmen could take emergency steps to avert damage to facilities and materials during the rainy season, according to a unication ministry statement. South Korean managers could have talks with their North Korean counterparts during their trip, it said. The Norths invitation sparked speculation that it may be ready for dialogue with the South. But South Korea responded cautiously, saying it would review the proposal and convey its response later. The Norths offer is seen as a strategic change in its attitude, but we cannot say yet it is interested in sincere talks with the South, Yang Moo-Jin of the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul told AFP. The North has moderated its tough stance in recent weeks, apparently under pressure from China, but South Korea remains sceptical, he said. Representatives of the South Korean companies have repeatedly urged the two sides to open talks to revive the moribund industrial park. Of them, 46 are manufacturers of electronics and machinery parts whose facilities are especially vulnerable to humidity in the current wet weather. The manufacturers of machinery and electronics parts cannot wait any longer. Kaesong must be reopened... or they have to move elsewhere , Kim HakKwon, who represents the 46 companies, told reporters earlier yesterday. It has been 92 days since the complex came to a halt... our patience has been stretched beyond its limit. Several companies have been in talks to move facilities out of Kaesong and relocate them abroad including China, Kim said.

Cane toads wiping out rare crocs

AFP Sydney

Asylum boats on Australia, Indonesia horizon

AFP Sydney

ustralias noxious cane toad is wiping out populations of a unique miniature crocodile, researchers warned yesterday, with fears the warty, toxic creature could extinguish the rare reptile. A team from Charles Darwin University studying the impacts of the foul toad in upstream escarpments found signicant declines in numbers of dwarf freshwater crocodiles after the amphibians arrival. Dwarf crocodiles are thought to be stunted due to a lack of available food and researchers believe the crocs started gobbling up the cane toads when they came along. Lead researcher Adam Britton said there had been 28 of the rare crocs across the study area, around the Victoria and Bullo rivers in the Northern Territory, prior to the arrival of the toads. The population declined to ten after the toads arrived, the study, conducted from 2007-2008 and published in the latest edition of the journal Wildlife Research, showed. Dead crocodiles and evidence of their having eaten cane toads strongly suggest that these declines were caused directly by the arrival of cane toads into the area, the study found. Dwarf crocodiles, also known as pygmy or stunted crocodiles, grow to a maximum of 1.7m, or 0.7m for females, half the size of other freshwater crocs. There is no evidence that the rare pygmy is genetically different to other freshwater crocodiles. Britton said there was concern that, due to their limited numbers - believed to be in the low hundreds - the pygmy croc could die out altogether due to the cane toads march. We already know that cane toads kill freshwater crocodiles, but we were concerned that cane toads might have a major impact on dwarf populations because of their small

A handout photo released yesterday by the Charles Darwin Museum of a fully grown adult male dwarf crocodile in the Bullo River in Australias Northern Territory. size and lack of alternative food sources, Britton said. These are low-density populations to begin with, he continued. They disappeared totally from one study site. The researcher added: We still have a long way to go in our understanding of how native populations deal with invasive species. The study did offer some hope for the crocodiles, with no apparent population change recorded at one site and evidence of behavioural adaptations to avoid the poison by only eating the toads hind legs. Cane toads - warty, leathery creatures with a venom sac on their heads toxic enough to kill snakes and crocodiles - are advancing across north-western Australia at a speed of 50km a year. They were rst introduced to Australia from Hawaii to control scarab beetle populations in the 1930s but have now reached pest proportions, breeding prolically and with few predators. Native animals, particularly small marsupials and lizards, will die if they eat a full-grown adult.

ustralias new Prime Minister Kevin Rudd heads to Indonesia this week for his rst foreign trip since retaking the leadership, but one in which the thorny domestic issue of asylum-seekers is set to gure prominently. Would-be refugees risking their lives journeying to Australia by boat, often from transit hubs in Indonesia, are a key issue for the upcoming election. Australia has tried to stem the ow with punitive policies banishing asylum-seekers to the remote Pacic Islands of Nauru and Papua New Guinea, but thousands have arrived by boat since and scores more have died trying. Rudd has already drawn Indonesia into the domestic debate, pouring scorn on his election rival opposition leader Tony Abbott and his plan to turn back the boats, saying this risked a diplomatic incident with Jakarta. I really wonder if he is trying to risk conict with Indonesia... there have been some pretty rough times in the relationship, I never want to see that again, Rudd told reporters in Canberra. The jet-setting former foreign minister and ex-diplomat will take the prickly issue abroad this week, hoping to emphasise his leadership credentials after three years in exile which ended last month with his dramatic toppling of Julia Gillard. Rudd won a 57-45 leadership ballot of

Labor lawmakers fearing crushing defeat at the polls in September, where the politically-sensitive issue of asylum-seekers is expected to loom large. Zareh Ghazarian, who lectures in politics at Melbournes Monash University, said Rudd would be looking to consolidate Australias relationship with Indonesia in the two-day visit beginning today. But he said the trip could also be used by Rudd to advance his domestic political objectives ahead of the yet-to-be announced election date. Ghazarian said Rudd wanted to be seen to be a prime minister who is in control of Australias foreign affairs and is comfortable dealing with our foreign neighbours and is addressing important issues . And the most important one of them all, at this point of time in terms of domestic politics, is asylum seekers and boat arrivals, he added. With some 13,105 boat people arriving in Australia since January 1 - the largest group of them from Iran with 4,361 arrivals - Ghazarian said the approach highlights Rudds new pragmatism. Asylum-seeker policy is something that has been shown in the polls to really be hurting Labor in a number of important swinging seats, especially in western Sydney, he said. So if he is able to somehow ameliorate those voters concerns by being seen to be a bit more tough on border security, then it is not going to do any harm to Labors prospects. Given the record inux of arrivals, the

government has reportedly asked new Immigration Minister Tony Burke to consider other options, including stricter assessments and how to repatriate those deemed to be economic migrants. The conservative opposition has labelled Rudds comments on conict with Indonesia reckless, but Abbott said this week the Prime Minister had nally woken up to the fact that the vast majority of these people are not fair dinkum refugees . Theyre economic migrants pure and simple, Abbott said. Now I can understand why people from horrible countries would want to come to Australia. I can understand that. But theyve got to come in the front door not the back door. Professor Vedi Hadiz, Professor of Asian Societies and Politics at Murdoch University in Perth, said Rudd distancing himself from Abbotts policy of turning back the boats was welcome. And I think that just by distancing himself from Abbott, Rudd would make quite a lot of political mileage, he said. Hadiz said Indonesia would be receptive of the idea of a clamp down on peoplesmuggling given it strains Indonesias border controls. But he added any attempt to deal with people-smuggling effectively would have to be a regional effort. Its not really even what Australia does or what Indonesia does, it has to be Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Iraq and of course thats a huge effort, he said.

Gulf Times Thursday, July 4, 2013

25

BRITAIN
RULING CRIME ANGER LAW AND ORDER ENTERTIANMENT

Parents jailed over sons heroin death

A father has been jailed for killing his young son after negligently allowing him to take a heroin overdose in the family home. Simon Jones, 30, was sentenced to six years behind bars after previously admitting manslaughter by gross negligence of 23-month-old Daniel Jones. Daniels mother 34-year-old Emma Bradburn was also jailed for four years after she admitted allowing the young boys death. Sentencing the couple at Wolverhampton Crown Court, Justice Thirlwall said there was no doubt the two - both long-term heroin addicts - had loved their boy, but added: It is one thing to risk your own health but quite another matter entirely to risk your sons.

Pair shot during eviction attempt

Two people were shot as they tried to evict a tenant from a house in south London, police said. A man aged in his 60s and a 59-year-old woman were left with gunshot wounds after attempting to force a man to leave a property in Strathleven Road, Brixton, yesterday morning. Police were called at around 9.50am and armed officers were sent to the scene, where they forced entry to the suspected gunmans home. He was found to be unarmed, but a gun was later discovered. The man was arrested and taken into custody at a police station in south London. The condition of the pair who were shot is unknown, but the force said their injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.

Banks face protest for link to postal privatisation

Trade unions opposing the privatisation of the postal service will hold a protest next week at the London offices of the banks advising the government on the float. Goldman Sachs and UBS will be the focus of the protest, which forms the centrepiece of a week of activity planned by union branches across the country. The government, which hopes to launch the stock market flotation of the countrys 497-year-old postal service later this year, says the Royal Mail needs to access private capital and modernise. But the plans have been criticised by unions, which say the sale will spark a decline in postal service provision and working conditions for the companys 150,000 employees.

Sex offenders could face polygraph testing

Sex offenders could face polygraph testing as part of their licence conditions after research showed that those taking part in a pilot scheme were more likely to be truthful when talking to probation staff. Researchers from the University of Kents Centre of Research and Education in Forensic Psychology found overwhelming evidence to suggest that sex offenders supervised in the polygraph scheme made more disclosures about their risk to the community. The legislation, which was agreed in the House of Commons on Tuesday, means polygraph testing of sex offenders, particularly high-risk offenders, will be undertaken by probation staff throughout England and Wales.

Elton John attacks Voice non-entities

Sir Elton John has accused BBC1 talent show The Voice of producing non-entities. The musician has often been a critic of TV talent shows in the past and has now blasted the poor track record of The Voice on both sides of the Atlantic. And Sir Elton said the contest was more about the coaches than the contestants. His comments come in the wake of last years winner Leanne Mitchell suffering a sales disaster with her debut album. It peaked at number 134 in the album charts after selling fewer than 1,000 copies in its first week. And the 2013 winner Andrea Begley only made it to number 30 in the charts at the weekend for her track My Immortal in the wake of her win.

Website founders buy back Bebo for $1mn

AFP London

Publicity stunt

he British couple who sold social networking site Bebo for $850mn ve years ago have bought back the company for just $1mn and say they will relaunch it. Michael Birch and his wife Xochi launched Bebo in 2005 after meeting at university in London and the site became the destination of choice for teenagers to chat and share pictures, attracting 40mn users by 2008. But as Facebook and Twitter began their rapid rise, Bebo fell out of fashion and by the time it was sold to AOL, analysts were warning that it was vastly overpriced. AOL sold it on to investment fund Criterion Capital Partners in 2010 for a sum reported to be as low as $10mn. After buying back the now-bankrupt company, Michael Birch tweeted: We just bought Bebo back for $1m. Can we actually re-invent it? Who knows, but it will be fun trying... The Birchs own high-tech development team, Monkey Inferno, will try to breathe new life into Bebo from offices in San Francisco, where the couple live with their three children, a statement said. Monkey Infernos CEO Shaan Puri said: Were excited about the ambitious challenge of bringing Bebo back, and couldnt be happier to announce that the product will be back in the hands of the founders. We know the odds are stacked against us, but we love challenges and the Bebo users deserve better than what they have received the past few years. Michael and Xonchi Birch have not been sitting back and enjoying their richesthey are in the process of developing a private members club in San Francisco, based on similar clubs in London such as Soho House. Called The Battery and housed in an old brick warehouse with spectacular views over San Francisco Bay, it will incorporate a restaurant, gym, a hot tub capable of accommodating 20 people, a library and a wine cellar.

Government announces ban on herbal stimulant qat

Home Secretary defies her own expert advisers and makes herbal stimulant a class C drug
Guardian News and Media London

Bookmakers wearing costumes depicting a Queens guard and the queen do a publicity stunt at the entrance to the Lindo Wing, a private facility within St Marys Hospital in Paddington, London, yesterday. Catherine, The Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William, The Duke of Cambridge, have confirmed that their baby will be delivered in the same place where late Princess Diana gave birth to William.

he Home Secretary Theresa May has deed her own expert advisers and banned qat, a mild herbal stimulant that is traditionally used by Britains Somali, Yemeni and Ethiopian communities. May said it would become a class C drug and warned that since the majority of other north European states had already banned the herb there was a serious risk that Britain could become a single, regional hub for its illegal onward trafficking. The home secretary added that the penalties for personal possession would escalate in a similar way to those for cannabis, with a warning issued for a rst-time offence leading to arrest and prosecution for persistent users. The government will ban qat so that we can protect vulnerable members of our communities and send a clear message to our international partners and qat smugglers that the UK is serious about stopping the illegal trafcking of qat. The home secretary said that increasing seizures of qat transiting the UK en route to the Netherlands had already been seen since the Dutch banned the drug earlier this year. Failure to take decisive action and change the UKs legislative position on qat would place the

UK at serious risk of becoming a single, regional hub for the illegal onward trafficking (to northern Europe), May told MPs. The home secretarys decision clashes with the expert opinion of her own Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD), which has said there is insufficient evidence that chewing qat causes health or wider problems in society to justify a ban in Britain. Her expert advisers also said they found no evidence that the trade was directly linked to serious organised crime or used to fund the Somalia-based AlSheabaab Islamist group, as has been alleged. Their inquiry also found there was little evidence that Heathrow was becoming a Europewide hub for the re-export of the stimulant. The ACMD chairman, professor Les Iversen, reacted to Mays decision by saying: The ACMD considers evidence of harm associated with the use of qat to be insufficient to justify its control under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. While I am disappointed that the home secretary has not accepted the ACMDs recommendation that qat should retain its legal status and not be controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, I recognise that there are broader policy considerations the home secretary has to take into account and the decision whether to control a substance ultimately lies with the government. The home secretary was

careful to acknowledge that the ACMD had undertaken a thorough and comprehensive scientic review but said it found a lack of robust evidence in a number of areas. The decision to bring qat under control is nely balanced and takes into account the expert scientic advice and these broader concerns, she said. Opponents of a ban say it will risk criminalising as many as 90,000 members of the British Somali, Yemeni and Ethiopian communities for whom chewing qat is a traditional part of their social lives. The home secretarys decision is the rst major clash with the ACMD since professor David Nutt was sacked as its chairman in a row with the then home secretary, Alan Johnson, over the classication of ecstasy. Nutt commented: Banning qat shows contempt for reason and evidence, disregard for the sincere efforts of the ACMD, and most of all, indifference to the welfare and rights of the communities in which qat is used. Twice in a decade the governments expert advisers published reviews showing that the relatively low harms associated with qat cannot justify criminalisation, he said, claiming that persistent US pressure lay behind the move. Nutt added that the ACMD had proposed ways of minimising the harms caused by the drug.

Organ donation opt out plan passed in Wales

AFP London

Adele in wax

Cannabis farms power theft sparks action

Reuters London

ales will become the rst country in the United Kingdom to adopt an organ and tissue donation scheme based on presumed consent after assembly members voted in favour of a bill on Tuesday. The opt-in system currently in place across the UK relies on people signing up to a voluntary scheme and carrying a donor card. But the Welsh government wants to introduce a system in which individuals will be presumed to have consented after death unless they specically object during their lifetime. Members of the Welsh Assembly in Cardiff voted 43 to eight in favour of the scheme, which is on course to come into force by 2015. The Human Transplantation (Wales) Bill aims to increase the number of organs and tissues available for transplant by introducing the so-called soft optout system.

Donation rates could increase by between 25% and 30% under such a system, says the government. Richard Lewis, the British Medical Associations secretary in Wales, called the Bill the most important piece of legislation created in Wales since the (medieval manuscript) laws of Hywel Dda.

Im opposed in principle to a system where organ transplantation becomes a passive act, and consent for it is presumed, or as the Bill puts it deemed, by the state
The association was delighted that the Welsh National Assemby was showing the rest of Britain the way forward, he added. Patients across the country will now benet directly or indirectly from this Bill. But Clwyd West representative Darren Millar called for an independent evaluation of the scheme, warning of unintended consequences . Im opposed in principle to a

system where organ transplantation becomes a passive act, and consent for it is presumed, or as the Bill puts it deemed, by the state, he said. The new scheme offers three options: a person will be able to register to explicitly opt in to the new organ donation scheme or opt out of it. Where a person fails to express a preference he or she will be deemed to have given consent by taking no action. Relatives will still be able to object to their family members organs being donated. Campaign charity the Kidney Wales Foundation (KWF) has hailed the new scheme saying it will increase the number of vital transplant donors. This consent law has had a positive and sizeable effect on organ donation rates of some 25% to 35% higher on average in deemed consent countries, said Roy Thomas, chief executive of the KWF. Currently only around a third of the Welsh population is on the organ donor register and this is around the same for the UK as a whole.

A wax figure of British singer Adele is unveiled during a photo call at Madame Tussauds in central London yesterday.

annabis farms are sucking millions of pounds worth of power off the energy grid, the industry regulator said yesterday, as it announced a clamp down on electricity theft that will force power companies to act or face fines. Regulator Ofgem said at least 200mn of electricity is stolen in Britain each year. As much as a third of that is used to feed illegal cannabis farms, it said. New proposals, due to be in operation by 2015, will require suppliers to detect, investigate and prevent electricity theft, liaising with police forces and government. Similar rules were introduced for gas theft earlier this year. Indoor cannabis farms, which use artificial light to mimic the effect of the sun, use around 40 times more electricity than normal households, Ofgem said. The six big energy suppliers that control the bulk of the

retail market in Britain are EDF Energy, Centrica , SSE, RWEs npower, E.ON and Iberdrolas Scottish Power. Angela Knight, head of Energy UK, the trade association for the electricity and gas companies, told BBC Radio 4s Today programme that Ofgem was right to highlight the issue and that industry was keen to step up to the plate. But she expressed some reservations about its announcement of threatened fines. Its a bit of a pity theyve done it that way, but working with Ofgem to get this right, were absolutely up for that. This is complicated, (the cannabis growers) are bypassing the system, so the normal meter reading, you dont pick it up. She said the industry would need significant help from the police as those involved tended to be fraudsters and gangs. Cannabis is a class B drug in Britain, which means those who supply and produce it can be imprisoned for up to 14 years and/or face an unlimited fine.

26

Gulf Times Thursday, July 4, 2013

BRITAIN
LAW AND ORDER OBITUARY CRACKDOWN WILDLIFE DEFENCE

Two women held in plebgate probe

Two women, including a serving police officer, have been arrested as part of Scotland Yards investigation into the so-called plebgate affair involving former Tory chief whip Andrew Mitchell. A 37-year-old police constable from the Diplomatic Protection Group, which is tasked with protecting diplomatic and government officials, was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in a public office. A 46-year-old woman was also arrested at her place of work on suspicion of assisting the commission of an offence of misconduct in a public office. The plebgate row ignited when Mitchell was accused of a heated rant against officers as he left Downing Street on September 19.

Animator Wilson dies aged 93

British-born animator and producer John David Wilson, famed for the Grease and Lady and the Tramp films, has died at the age of 93, his wife said yesterday. The World War II veteran animated the opening sequence for the 1978 high school musical film Grease that starred John Travolta, and in a long career at Disney worked on muchloved characters Mickey Mouse, Goofy and Donald Duck. He also founded his own animation company, Fine Arts Films, in 1955. Wilson suffered from Alzheimers in his last four years. In 1960, using the latest technology, Wilson created Journey to the Stars for the NASA Space Pavilion at the Seattle Worlds Fair.

Benefits of 2,400 households capped

The drive to slash the welfare bill has seen the benefits of over 2,400 households in London capped. Officials yesterday confirmed the plan to limit any households benefits to 26,000 a year, or 500 a week, had been successfully rolled out in four London boroughs. They revealed that about 120 households had been receiving over 750 a week, or 39,000 a year, in benefits. Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith said: This government has put a stop to the days of run-away benefits claims. Londoners want to know that the welfare safety net is there for them should the worst happen, but benefits must be fair for those who need them and the hard working taxpayers.

Oldest seal is father again at 36

One of the oldest captive seals in Britain has become a father again at the age of 36. Common seal Babyface - whose age is equivalent to 80 human years - fathered a pup with nine-year-old pool-mate Sija. Staff at the Cornish Seal Sanctuary were surprised by the birth, having discovered Sija was pregnant only a few weeks ago. Animal care team leader Tamara Cooper said: I was shocked but delighted when I made my early morning rounds and found a beautiful newborn pup swimming around happily with her mum and dad. The sex of the new arrival is not yet known.

Reservist numbers to rise by 12,000

Dozens of reservist bases are to close across the country as the government frees up funding for a major expansion of numbers. Defence Secretary Philip Hammond unveiled plans to recruit an extra 12,000 part-timers to bolster the armed forces, promising new pension, healthcare and leave perks worth thousands of pounds. But in future, the 35,000 fully-trained reservists will be concentrated into 25 fewer bases, with 38 earmarked for closure and 13 being opened at new locations. Better-paid civilians also face being frozen out of serving in front-line roles, as the government has decided it will no longer make up the difference between army wages and their normal salaries.

Hospital chief departs over revelations of failings in care

Christine Green tenders resignation after 15 years in charge of NHS trust as criticism of hospital mounts
Guardian News and Media London

Royal couple visit studio

he 150,000-a-year chief executive of the scandalhit Tameside hospital in Manchester has departed in the wake of revelations of major failings in quality of care and patient safety. Christine Green, who has been chief executive of Tameside NHS foundation trust for 15 years, has tendered her resignation in the wake of mounting criticism about the hospital, including her leadership of it.

Although the majority of care delivered by the hospitals frontline staff is praised by patients, we have had serious concerns about aspects of care and governance at the hospital for some time now
Her departure will be welcomed by some local MPs, three of whom made clear earlier yesterday that they had lost confidence in her, as well as local GPs. Green has been under pressure as a result of the Guardians disclosures that two NHS reviews commissioned by Tameside had highlighted an array of problems with patient care and that local GPs in the clinical commission group wanted her out. Her departure follows discussions she had last week with Paul Connellan, the chairman of the hospitals board of governors. The Guardian reported yesterday that the board of Tameside and Glossop CCG wanted both Green and the medical director Dr Tariq Mahmood to quit to enable major improvements to be made.

Jonathan Reynolds, Andrew Gwynne and David Heyes, the three MPs whose constituents use Tameside as their main local hospital, had issued a joint statement yesterday urging Green to go. Although the majority of care delivered by the hospitals frontline staff is praised by patients, we have had serious concerns about aspects of care and governance at the hospital for some time now, which the hospital trust are well aware of. We have always stood by our previous statement that new leadership is required, the Labour trio said. There needs to be signicant and sustained improvement across several different areas of care and management. We are condent this can be done, and in doing so local condence in the hospitals ability to meet the needs of our community can be restored. Detailed concerns about major problems in the care provided at Tameside, highlighted by two separate reviews by internal teams of NHS experts in best practice seen by the Guardian, bore out their own longstanding concerns, the MPs said. We have campaigned for many years to ensure Tameside hospital delivers the level of care expected of an NHS hospital. These reports reflect our own concerns and the submission made by us to the Keogh review. Sir Bruce Keoghs ndings into standards of treatment at 14 hospitals, which are expected to be highly critical, are due to be published in the week beginning July 15. The MPs intervention comes as the Care Quality Commission (CQC), which regulates NHS care, admitted that its inspectors had found problems at Tamesides AE unit, which was heavily criticised and depicted as an overcrowded scene of chaos in the two reports.

Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, meet with a Cyberman during their visit to the set of the BBC One drama series Doctor Who, at Roath Lock Studios in Cardiff yesterday.

Plans to charge migrants for healthcare unveiled

AFP London

he government yesterday announced plans to charge migrants hundreds of pounds a year to access its state-run National Health Service (NHS), in a bid to clamp down on so-called health tourism. Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt also proposes to stop giving visitors from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) free access to general practitioners (GPs). We have been clear that we are a national health service, not an international health service,

and I am determined to wipe out abuse in the system, he said. Ministers have yet to establish exactly how much GP visits for migrants are costing the NHS. The move to charge them is tied in to a wider clampdown on immigration by the Conservativeled coalition government. Access to accident and emergency care will not be affected by the changes and will remain free. The proposals have sparked concern among health professionals, who warn that the measures pose a public health risk by deterring ill patients from seeking treatment. People use the NHS if theyve got infections and we certainly

dont want to have people wandering around for fear of being charged at the GP surgery, Clare Gerada, chairwoman of the Royal College of General Practitioners, told BBC radio. She added: I dont think we should be turning the GP surgery into a border agency.

We have been clear that we are a national health service, not an international health service, and I am determined to wipe out abuse in the system
The National AIDS Trust (NAT) said the plans also threat-

ened to undermine years of work to encourage marginalised atrisk groups to access HIV testing and treatment. By limiting access to primary care for some migrants living in England we would cut off the only place many of them will get an HIV diagnosis, chief executive Deborah Jack said. Under the proposals, which will be put out to public consultation, people visiting Britain for less than six months would have to pay to visit a GP. They already have to pay for routine hospital care. Students and workers staying more than six months would be charged a set fee of at least 200 a year to

cover NHS costs when they apply for their visas. This is in addition to taxes used to fund the health service. The government also wants to boost efforts by the NHS to recoup the cost of treating patients from EEA countries - the European Union plus Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland. The health service currently writes off about 12mn a year that could be claimed back from EEA governments, the department of health said. Countries such as Australia, which have a special agreement to allow their citizens free healthcare in Britain, will not be affected by the changes.

Abu Qatada to be deported on Sunday

AFP London

Floating meadow

TV channel to air Muslim call to prayer

Reuters London

leric Abu Qatada is to be own from Britain to Jordan on Sunday, after the two governments approved a treaty paving the way for his deportation ending years of litigation, a Jordanian official said yesterday. Abu Qatada is expected to leave Britain in the early hours of Sunday and should arrive in the morning in Jordan on the same day, a government official said on condition of anonymity. He will arrive in Jordan on a military plane, escorted by Jordanian and British guards, the official said without elaborating. The Palestinian-born cleric has been ghting extradition to Jordan for years, although his representatives said he had nally reconciled himself to being deported to the kingdom which convicted him in his absence of terror charges in 1999.

Born Omar Mahmud Mohamed Otman in Bethlehem, Abu Qatada is Palestinian by birth but has Jordanian nationality because the West Bank city was controlled by Jordanian authorities at the time.

He will arrive in Jordan on a military plane, escorted by Jordanian and British guards
In 1999 he was condemned to death in Jordan for conspiracy to carry out terror attacks, including on the American school in Amman, but the sentence was immediately reduced to life imprisonment with hard labour. In 2000, he was sentenced to 15 years for plotting to carry out terror attacks on tourists during the millennium celebrations in Jordan. We are optimistic. We hope that he will be taken to his home from the airport, directly. It is in nobodys interest to keep him in jail, Mohamed Shalabi, a

Jordanian Salast leader better known as Abu Sayyaf, said. To my knowledge, his family will hire a lawyer for him. We are sure that he had nothing to do with what he was convicted of. We want him to arrive in Jordan safe and sound. Hopefully he will be declared innocent after a fair and quick trial. Detained without charge in Britain in 2002 and held in custody or under tight bail conditions ever since on the basis of intelligence assessments that he was a spiritual mentor for recruits to Al Qaeda, Abu Qatada has never been prosecuted for any crime in Britain. His lawyers took his case to European human rights judges who ruled earlier attempts to extradite him illegal on the grounds that evidence might be used against him that had been obtained by torture. The treaty paving the way for his deportation was ratied last month by Jordans King Abdullah II and published in the official gazette on Monday.

London Wildlife Trust volunteers help lay and repair a floating meadow along the Regents canal, which when finished will hopefully help the bee population, in north London.

television station will broadcast the Muslim call to prayer every morning during the holy month of Ramadan to give a voice to Britains Muslim minority, which has faced a backlash since the murder of a soldier on a London street. Channel 4 has announced it would be the rst mainstream national broadcaster to air the call, issuing it at 3am daily from July 9 for the holy month. The publicly-owned broadcaster, set up to appeal to minority audiences, will also interrupt its programming four times on the rst day of Ramadan with 20-second lms to remind viewers of the call to prayer. Christian programming is a familiar feature of British national radio and television, although its audiences are dwindling. Ralph Lee, Channels 4 head of factual programmes, said he expected the station would be crit-

icised for focusing attention on a minority religion. But he said he hoped to give a voice to mainstream, law-abiding Muslims. The calls to prayer prompt Muslims to carry out quiet moments of worship, but hopefully theyll also make other viewers sit up and notice that this event is taking place, Lee said in a statement. British Muslims have suffered reprisals since two men murdered soldier Lee Rigby, a 25-year-old veteran of the war in Afghanistan, in broad daylight outside Londons Woolwich barracks in May. Since then, there have been a series of demonstrations and a rise in Islamophobic attacks, including suspected arson at an Islamic centre in London. The Muslim Council of Britain, which represents Britains nearly 3mn Muslims, supported Channel 4s move, saying: This is a very special month for Muslims and its recognition on a mainstream channel is not only symbolic for belonging and solidarity but will hopefully help to portray a more realistic account of Islam and Muslims.

Gulf Times Thursday, July 4, 2013

27

EUROPE

Merkel hosts EU youth jobs meeting

AFP Berlin

erman Chancellor Angela Merkel hosted European leaders yesterday to jointly tackle mass youth unemployment but the show of unity was clouded as EU heavyweights Berlin and Paris differed in their response to US spying claims. While France angered over the US spying claims by fugitive US intelligence analyst Edward Snowden called for the temporary suspension of EU-US free trade talks set to start next week, Germany said they should go ahead as planned. French President Francois Hollande days ago called for a common EU position on the spying allegations and said talks on

what would be the worlds biggest free trade area should be put on ice until there are guarantees the espionage has stopped. While France suggested yesterday a two-week delay, Merkels spokesman said that we want this free trade agreement, and we want to start the talks now , adding that US-EU committees could jointly discuss data and privacy protection issues. One French diplomatic source put the mixed message from Europes two biggest players down to a blunder in communications, while another said Merkel and Hollande would discuss the issue later, on the sidelines of the Berlin meeting. The disunity distracted from the central theme of the day: helping the 6mn under-25-yearold Europeans most of them

in crisis-hit Spain, Portugal and Greece who have neither a job nor a training or education place. The urgency of the wider eurozone crisis has been highlighted by renewed turmoil in Portugal, where the resignations of the nance and foreign ministers over unpopular austerity reforms this week have sharply driven up borrowing costs and caused stocks to plunge. Merkel, a strong advocate of budgetary discipline during the eurozone crisis, has in recent months stressed initiatives against the chronic joblessness which in some countries has left around 60% of under 25-yearolds out of work. In a newspaper interview on the eve of the meeting, she warned against the threat of a lost generation and called

German Chancellor Angela Merkel opens a conference on ways to tackle the youth unemployment in Europe at the Federal Chancellery in Berlin. Money alone will not solve the problem of European youth unemployment, she had warned in an interview earlier yesterday. youth unemployment, which is near 24 percent across the eurozone, perhaps the most pressing problem facing Europe . But critics have maligned the Berlin conference which comes some 80 days before Merkel seeks a third term in elections as a talk-fest that aims to soften the image of the continents austerity champion, both at home and abroad. Youth unemployment in Europe is a direct result of Merkels one-sided austerity policies, tweeted her top election rival from the Social Democrats, Peer Steinbrueck, speaking for many critics who have demanded economic stimulus measures, not belt-tightening. A meeting of European trade unions levelled the same charge, also criticising that the initial 6bn euros ($7.8bn) in EU funds earmarked to combat the problem is a triing amount, especially compared to far larger bank bail-outs of the past. The available EU funds are like aiming a garden hose at molten lava , Michael Sommer, chairman of German trade union federation DGB, told the Passauer Neue Presse daily. Merkel, opening the meeting of the 28 EU member nations, said that, while additional funds will be found in European social funds and programmes: I believe that, just for once, money is not the problem. The problem is: How will we earn money in future? How can we give young people a chance? How can we give credits to small and medium enterprises at rates they can afford? In other words, how do we get the economy started again? Stung by past criticism that Berlin is dictating solutions to crisis-hit eurozone members, she added that of course the different conditions of different countries must be considered, and thats what well do today .

Left: Three youths hold up huge letters spelling ACT while another placard reads We are a safe bank. Invest now during a demonstration yesterday against youth unemployment in Europe in front of the Federal Chancellery in Berlin. Below: A woman holds up a hair dryer while others hold up notices reading Mrs Merkel. No more hot air! Action now! during the demonstration.

BULGARIA

Belgian king says he will abdicate this month

DPA Brussels

Ex-spy chief charged with embezzling millions from agencys budget

Bulgarias former spy chief Kircho Kirov has been charged with embezzling millions from the National Intelligence Services budget between 2007 to 2011, Sofia military prosecutors said yesterday. Kirov who headed the service from February 2003 to January 2012 allegedly issued 1,100 documents for expenses he did not make and pocketed the money, estimated at 4.7mn leva (2.4mn euros, $3.1mn). Charged with embezzlement and document fraud, he now risks between 10 and 20 years in jail and confiscation of property if found guilty. The prosecution said the case was particularly grave given the high office of the perpetrator. Presa daily newspaper reported yesterday that Kirov had opened a non-existent investigation under the code name D-05 and paid imaginary agents for working on it. The money about 900,000 leva per year has not been recovered.

elgian King Albert II announced yesterday that he will relinquish the throne on July 21, allowing his eldest son, Prince Philippe, to take over as monarch. I notice that my age and my health do not allow me to carry out my duty as I would like to, the 79-year-old said in a televised address to the nation. I would fail to live up to my duties and my concept of the royal function by wanting to remain ... at all cost, without being able to fully live up to my role, he added. After a 20-year reign, I feel that the time has come to pass on the torch to the next generation. Albert ascended to the throne in August 1993 following the death of his older brother, King Baudouin. When he was born, Prince Albert was not destined to become king, but with his enthusiasm, his empathy, his humour and his intelligence, he became it fully, Belgian Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo said. Di Rupo was referring to the fact that, when Albert was younger, it had seemed more likely the crown would pass down through Baudouins side of the family. However, Baudouin died with no heirs. (Alberts) sincerity, his courage and his lucidity with regard to his decision deserve our admiration, Di Rupo added. Belgium has had six kings since the creation of its monarchy in 1831. Some had hoped that Albert

Left: King Albert II gives a televised address to the nation, during which he said he will abdicate in favour of his son Crown Prince Philippe on July 21. Right, and below: Press photographers take pictures of an army of Smurfs, with one holding a miniature Belgian flag, which was set up by a Smurfs fan in front of the Brussels Royal Palace.

would remain king until Belgium holds federal elections next year. The royal family is seen as one of the few forces uniting the countrys fractious Dutch-speaking Flemish and French-speaking Walloon communities. There are two things that keep the Belgians united: the king and the Red Devils (football

team), Brussels resident Matthieu Bruynseels, who joined a crowd of about 70 people gathered outside the royal palace, told DPA. Over the years, with the Queen Paola, (Albert) won the hearts of the Belgians, Di Rupo noted. Albert met Paola, an Italian

princess, at the coronation of pope John XXIII. But their marriage was not always happy, as the king himself has publicly admitted. He recently has been embroiled in a court case involving a woman who claims to be his illegitimate daughter. Delphine Boel has demanded

DNA evidence from the ruler and two of his children to establish her royal lineage. It is the rst time that a Belgian king has willingly abdicated. Albert said he would still hold his traditional address to the nation on July 20, the eve of the countrys National Day. Albert, Paola and Philippe will take part in those ceremonies, the king said. The end of my reign does not mean that our paths will now separate - on the contrary, Albert told his compatriots. His abdication is the second in Europe this year, after Dutch queen Beatrix left behind the throne after 33 years to place the responsibility of the country in the hands of a new generation . Belgiums new king, Prince Philippe, is a qualied ghter pilot who graduated from Stanford University with a masters degree in political science. He is married to Princess Mathilde, who is of Belgian and Polish noble lineage. They have four children. The 53-year-old has represented Belgium in economic missions around the world, as chairman of the countrys trade board.

MALL CINEMA (1): Monster University (3D) 2.30pm; ABCD (Malayalam - 2D) 4.30 & 7.30pm; Singam II (Tamil - 2D) 10.30pm. MALL CINEMA (2): Hammer Of Gods (2D) 2.30 & 11.30pm, Monster University (3D) 4.30pm; The Bling Ring (2D) 6.45pm; Singam II (Tamil - 2D) 8.30pm. MALL CINEMA (3): Phantom (2D) 2.30 & 4.30pm; White House Down (2D) 6.30pm; World War Z (3D) 9pm; Officer Down (2D) 11.30pm. ROYAL PLAZA Cinema Palace (1): Monster University (3D) 2.30 & 4.30pm; The Bling Ring (2D) 7pm; Hammers Of God (2D) 9.15 & 11.15pm. ROYAL PLAZA Cinema Palace (2): Man Of Steel (3D) 2.30pm; Phantom (2D) 5 & 9.15pm; Officer Down (2D) 7 & 11.30pm. ROYAL PLAZA Cinema Palace (3): The Bling Ring (2D) 3pm; Policegiri (Hindi - 2D) 5 & 11pm; Lootera (Hindi - 2D) 8pm. CINEMA LANDMARK (1): Lootera (Hindi) 2.30 & 10.30pm; Monster University (3D) 5.30pm; Singam II (Tamil) 7.30pm. CINEMA LANDMARK (2): The Bling Ring (2D) 3pm; Phantom (2D) 5 & 7pm; Hammers Of Gods (2D) 9 & 11.15pm. CINEMA LANDMARK (3): Monster University (3D) 2.30pm; White House Down (2D) 4.30pm; World War Z (3D) 6.45pm; Officer Down (2D) 9 & 11.30pm.

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Gulf Times Thursday, July 4, 2013

EUROPE

Vow to stop Sochi 2014 using maximum force

Reuters Moscow

Man loses hand in explosion outside McDonalds in Saint Petersburg

A package exploded in a mans hand outside a McDonalds restaurant on the main boulevard in the Russian city of Saint Petersburg yesterday, injuring him but causing no other casualties, Russian media reported. The man was hospitalised after the blast on the bustling Nevsky Prospekt blew his hand off at the wrist and injured his abdomen, RIA news agency quoted police as saying. Interfax cited police as saying the man told them he had just picked up the package from the ground. The nature of the explosive was not immediately known and the mans identity was not released. Islamist insurgents based in southern Russia have claimed responsibility or been blamed for deadly bombings in Moscow and other locations, though there have been no major attacks ascribed to them in Saint Petersburg.

ussian Islamist rebels urged followers yesterday to use maximum force to prevent President Vladimir Putin from staging the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi. In an online video recorded in a forest, Doku Umarov said an order not to attack Russian targets outside the North Caucasus had been cancelled and likened holding the Games in the Black Sea city to performing Satanic dances on the graves of Muslims killed ghting Russian forces there in the 19th century. Umarov sat wearing camouage fatigues and a cap in front of a black jihadist ag, anked by two ghters who, like him, were bearded. As he spoke, birds could be heard in the forest. Sochi, which is due to host the Games next February, is a few hundred kilometres from the volatile and mountainous North Caucasus region in southern Russia where there is almost daily violence. But it was the homeland of ethnic Circassians until they were expelled in the 19th century. Putin has promised tight security at the Games, on which

Police detain mayor who left Putins party

Reuters Moscow

This image released by kavkazcenter.com website yesterday shows an undated screen grab of a man identified as Umarov (centre) calling for attacks against a range of targets that include the 2014 Sochi Olympic Games. Russia is spending more than $50bn, and sees it as a chance to show the world what his nation can achieve. They (Russia) plan to hold the Olympics on the bones of our ancestors, on the bones of many, many dead Muslims, buried on the territory of our land on the Black Sea, and we as mujahideen are obliged to not permit that, using any methods allowed us by the almighty Allah, Umarov said in the four-minute video on www.kavkazcenter.com. I call on you, every mujahid, either in Tatarstan, Bashkortostan or on the territory of the Caucasus to use maximum force on the path of Allah to disrupt this Satanic dancing on the bones of our ancestors, he said, referring to predominantly Muslim regions in Russia that are far from the North Caucasus. The Kremlin declined comment on the video, the authenticity of which could not immediately be established. Umarov has, however, regularly used the website to send messages to the Islamic ghters he refers to as mujahideen. Russias most wanted man, Umarov leads a group called the Caucasus Emirate which has taken responsibility for organising many attacks, including suicide bombings which killed 37 people at a Moscow airport in 2011 and at least 40 people on the Moscow subway in 2010.

Putin expressed concern last year that violence involving Muslims could spread to Tatarstan, in central Russia, after the top Muslim official there was wounded in a bomb attack. In February 2012 Umarov ordered a moratorium on attacks on Russian targets outside the North Caucasus and called for a halt on attacks that would harm civilians, but made clear in the new video that this order had been rescinded. The order was issued at the height of a protest movement against Putins more than decade-long rule and before last years presidential election, which Putin won. But the protests have dwindled and Russia has killed a number of insurgency leaders including Umarovs right-hand man in the Ingushetia region.

The North Caucasus, a patchwork of mainly Muslim territories between the Black and Caspian Seas, is torn by political and religious differences, as well as bitterness over the past. Many ethnic Circassians, an indigenous people of the North Caucasus, were killed or expelled by Russian Imperial soldiers in the 19th century in and around Krasnaya Polyana, the planned site of Olympic skiing events. Putin has long taken a tough stance against violence in the region after two wars between the Russian army and Chechen separatists. In the second of those wars, from 1999 to 2000, Putin burnished his reputation as an uncompromising leader. Wary of violence spilling over at the Games, Russia has

stepped up co-operation with the US over security since the Boston bombings, in which two ethnic Chechens are the main suspects. One spent time in the region before the bombings. Umarov is announcing this now to increase the Caucasus Emirates visibility by using Sochi, which has attained international recognition before the Olympic Games, said an expert on the region, Mairbek Vatchagayev. Analysts are divided over the Caucasus Emirates ability to carry out a large-scale bomb attack on Sochi but Umarov has been under pressure from some of his supporters to repeal the moratorium on attacks outside the North Caucasus. There is enough time to try to plan a terrorist attack and to carry it out, Vatchagayev said.

Past decade is hottest on record: UN

WMO report shows that more than 90% of countries surveyed registered their warmest decade
AFP Geneva

he 21st centurys rst decade was the hottest on record, with temperatures rising at an unprecedented pace and weather extremes claiming over 370,000 lives, the United Nations said yesterday. In a new report on 20012010, the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) said land and sea temperatures averaged 14.47 degrees Celsius (58 degrees Fahrenheit). This compares with the long-term average of 14 degrees Celsius (57.2 F), as measured from weather records dating back to 1881. This is the warmest decade of this whole period, said WMO chief Michel Jarraud. When measured globally, every year of the decade except 2008 was among the 10 warmest on record, the report showed. The increase between the 1990s and the past decade is the largest since we have instrumental records, Jarraud added. In 2001-2010, the average global temperature jumped 0.21 degrees Celsius (0.37F) over the previous decade. By comparison, warming rose by 0.14 degrees Celsius (0.25F) in the 1990s over the 1980s. Global warming is blamed on human activity such as industrial emissions of heat-trapping greenhouse gases, chiey carbon dioxide (CO2). Sceptics, however, suggest temperatures should be even higher according to estimates based on CO2 levels and that global warming is therefore plateauing. Theres no plateau. If you lter out the very short-term variability, the last decade was the warmest by a signicant margin, the WMO chief countered. He backed suggestions that heat is being stored in the deep ocean, where it was bound to released in the future.

Some doubters also point to recent harsh winters, or the current sluggish start to the European summer, which feeds a natural human tendency to grumble about the weather. When you look at climate variability and climate change, its very important not to focus on a particular part of the world or to concentrate on a particular year, said the WMO chief said. Based on surveys conducted of 139 countries, the WMO report showed that nearly 94% registered their warmest decade in 2001-2010, while about 44% reported nationwide temperature records during the period. Floods were the most frequent extreme event during the past decade, such as those in 2010 in Pakistan that killed some 2,000 people and affected 20mn others, the WMO said.

Forged of iron
Above: An iron rose is forged yesterday during the nationwide blacksmiths workshops in Wojciechow, Poland. The event aims to promote the blacksmithing craft and keep the profession alive. Left: Blacksmiths gather behind nails at the nationwide blacksmiths workshops in Wojciechow. Below: Blacksmiths participate in the nationwide blacksmiths workshops in Wojciechow.

From 2001 to 2010, the average global temperature jumped 0.21 degrees Celsius over the previous decade
However, the number of people killed by oods fell by 43%, and those who perished in storms by 16% over the decade, thanks to better early warning systems and increased preparedness. Despite this, the rst 10 years of the 21st century registered more than 370,000 deaths linked to weather extremes, an increase of 20% from the previous decade. The increase was mainly due to heatwaves in Europe in 2003 and in Russia in 2010, which helped push the global heatwave death toll to 136,000, compared to just 6,000 in the previous decade. When the question is asked, is it due to climate change, our traditional answer has been in most cases we cannot tell you, we cannot attribute a single event to climate change, because these events results from many complex interactions, said Jarraud. However, because of climate change, we expect these things to become more frequent, or more intense. Change has increased the probability, he said.

Russian opposition politician, whose election as a city mayor last year embarrassed President Vladimir Putin, was detained yesterday on corruption charges. Yevgeny Urlashov and his allies said the arrests were intended to silence dissent and hurt his partys chances in a September election. A spokeswoman for Urlashov mayor of Yaroslavl, 250km northeast of Moscow said that police had dragged him from his car when he stopped at a roadblock late at night. The interior ministry conrmed his detention. Federal investigators said Urlashov, his deputy and two other officials were suspected of extorting a 14mn rouble ($425,000) bribe from the head of a rm that has street cleaning and repair contracts in Yaroslavl. They could be jailed for 15 years if convicted. News agencies said police searched their homes and the mayors office. It is obvious that this nighttime show ... had a single aim: to scare Yevgeny and all other independent politicians and active citizens of Russia, billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov, leader of the independent Civil Platform party, said in a statement. Putins critics accuse him of cracking down on the opposition since his return to the Kremlin in May 2012 and several opposition leaders have faced criminal charges. The Kremlin denies using the judiciary for political ends. Urlashov, a member of Civil Platforms governing committee, defected from the ruling United Russia party in 2011 to join a protest movement that mounted the biggest opposition rallies of Putins 13 years in power. His landslide victory in Yaroslavl in April 2012 underscored discontent with United Russia. An aide said that Urlashov had called the mayors office after being detained, and quoted him as saying the allegations were a provocation by a company that had done poor quality road work, but were also intended to upset Civil Platforms plans for the election of a regional legislature on September 8. Urlashov was to lead Civil Platforms list of candidates in the election, and party chief Prokhorov a metals tycoon who owns US basketball team the Brooklyn Nets and placed third in the March 2012 presidential election won by Putin is to travel to Yaroslavl on Sunday to show support. This is pressure against me and my allies in connection with the September 8 election and with Mikhail Prokhorovs visit, the aide quoted Urlashov, 45, as saying. Urlashovs spokeswoman, Svetlana Yemova, was quoted as saying on the Civil Platform website that police had pulled him out by the scruff of the neck and drove him away without explaining the reason after stopping his car after midnight.

Turkish court blocks disputed Gezi park project

Reuters Istanbul

Turkish court has ruled against an Istanbul building project that triggered nationwide anti-government demonstrations, a copy of the court decision showed, dealing a blow to a project strongly backed by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Authorities were expected to appeal against the decision to

cancel a project to redevelop Istanbuls central Taksim Square, which became the centre of protests and violent clashes with police last month. But the ruling marked a signicant victory for a coalition of political forces opposed to it. The court made its ruling in early June, at the height of the unrest, according to a lawyer for the plaintiffs. It was unclear why it was only released now. The Taksim Square project, which would have involved cut-

ting down trees and erasing nearby Gezi Park, became for opponents of Erdogan symbolic of what they regarded as an increasingly high-handed form of government. Police used tear gas and water cannon to disperse crowds there and at demonstrations in other cities. Erdogan said on June 14 that his government would wait for the judiciary to rule, including the appeals process, before proceeding with the Taksim de-

velopment seen as one of his pet projects among many grand schemes for Istanbul. Gezi Park, one of central Istanbuls few green spaces, became a makeshift campsite occupied by thousands of people to stop the parks demolition. Anger mushroomed into mass demonstrations against Erdogans rule and Islamist-inspired policies in late May and simmered for much of June in several Turkish cities. Four people were killed and

some 7,500 wounded in the police crackdown, the Turkish Medical Association has said. Erdogan was rst elected in 2002 at the head of a party embracing centre-right activists, reformers and nationalists as well as orthodox religious elements. Critics argue that the prime minister has moved more towards his Islamist roots in recent years, while Erdogan himself has branded the protesters terrorists and vandals.

Gulf Times Thursday, July 4, 2013

29

EUROPE
French Greens threaten coalition
DPA Paris

Portugal government on brink as ministers quit

AFP Lisbon

rances Green party threatened yesterday to pull out of the Socialist-led government, a day after President Francois Hollande red his environment minister for criticising cuts to her departments budget. Hollandes ring of Delphine Batho, over an interview in which she complained about cuts to spending on the environment, caused surprise in France. This is the rst time Hollande and Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault have red a minister, despite repeated acts of insubordination by government members. Batho is a parliamentarian from the Socialist Party, but it was the Greens the junior partner in government that rushed to her defence. The party accused Hollande of reneging on his election promise to prioritise the environment. Junior minister for development, Pascal Cann, demanded that the government rapidly take steps to green the economy, failing which the two Greens ministers in government would draw all the consequences . Batho, 40, a former protg of former Socialist presidential candidate Segolene Royal, was a discreet presence in government until her outburst on Tuesday, in which she slammed the 2014 draft budget. The budget, which cut her departments funding by 7% as part of a spending squeeze, was a bad budget , she told RTL radio. She questioned Hollandes commitment to the environment and warned of growing disappointment with his policies. Summoned for a meeting with Ayrault, her fate was sealed in a statement by Hollande announcing her replacement. Yesterday she handed over to her successor, Philippe Martin. French media were divided on the issue. The leftist Liberation daily pointed out that other ministers, such as Productive Recovery Minister Arnaud Montebourg, had spoken out of turn in the past and yet retained their posts. An editorialist in the conservative Le Figaro paper, however, saluted the act of authority .

ortugals government tottered close to collapse yesterday after two ministers quit over its bailout reforms, sparking cries of concern from European authorities as nancial markets took fright. Stock markets fell and bond yields rose as the crisis fed fears of a new wave of instability from the eurozones debt-laden periphery. Alarm spread after Foreign Minister Paulo Portas resigned on Tuesday evening, a day after the shock departure of Finance Minister Vitor Gaspar. Portuguese newspapers reported yesterday that the agriculture and social security ministers were also likely to quit. The crisis came at a delicate time as Prime Minister Pedro Passo Coelho tries to full the terms of the 2011 bailout that rescued Portugal from nancial collapse.

Passos Coelho kept up appearances yesterday, travelling to Berlin as scheduled for a toplevel meeting on youth unemployment. But European officials urged the premier to settle the uncertainty as observers speculated that President Anibal Cavaco Silva would call a snap election. The political situation should be claried as soon as possible, said the European Commissions Portuguese president, Jose Manuel Barroso. Lisbons key PSI 20 index of leading shares closed 5.31% lower, with leading exchanges elsewhere in Europe sliding too. Portuguese borrowing prices soared with the yield on the benchmark 10-year government bonds spiking above eight percent for the rst time since November 2012, before easing a little. The initial reaction of the markets shows the obvious risk that the nancial credibility recently built up by Portugal could be jeopardised by the current

political instability, said Barroso. If this happens it would be especially damaging for the Portuguese people, particularly as there were already preliminary signs of economic recovery. In a bid to hold together his conservative coalition, Passos Coelho on Tuesday refused to accept Portass resignation and vowed not to resign himself. Speaking after yesterdays meeting in Berlin, he said he had expressed to his fellow leaders his condence that we in Portugal will be able to overcome these difficulties . He said German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the other leaders expressed their apprehension over the crisis but gave him words of encouragement . Analysts warned that the political disarray could bring down his government and derail the countrys recovery under the 78bn-euro ($100bn) international bailout. Portugal, under severe economic pressure from a lack of growth, a bloated public sec-

Passos Coelho addresses a press conference in Berlin yesterday as the Portuguese government tottered close to collapse after two ministers quit over its bailout reforms. tor and more than a decade of non-growth, most likely will see its government fall inside the next 48 hours, Saxo Bank chief economist Steen Jakobsen said yesterday morning. In his resignation letter, Portas said he disapproved of the prime ministers naming of Treasury Secretary Maria Luis Albuquerque to replace Gaspar. Her appointment was seen as an indication that Passos Coelho intended to push on with austerity despite protests. Drastic cuts in spending and tax rises have plunged the country into a deeper recession with

higher unemployment than had been expected. Passos Coelhos government has just two weeks to come up with a new programme to reform the state before auditors for the International Monetary Fund, European Union and European Central Bank arrive on July 15. President Cavaco Silva was to meet with the prime minister and lawmakers on Thursday in a bid to settle the crisis, his office said. The situation is worrying. So Im calling on Portugal to take responsibility, said Jeroen Dijsselbloem, the Dutch minister who heads the Eurogroup of eurozone nance chiefs. Analysts warned that if the market tension continued, the country might not be able to return to normal borrowing on the markets next year as hoped. The most probable scenario seems to me to be snap elections, said nancial analyst Paula Goncalves. The chances of a second bailout are increasing.

Union slams Air France over free ight for Bruni

Belarus celebrates Independence Day
Above: Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko (centre) attends the parade marking Independence Day in Minsk. Right: Belarusian soldiers in World War II-era Red Army uniform take part in the Independence Day parade yesterday in Minsk. Belarus celebrated yesterday an official holiday marking the day in 1944 when the Red Army liberated Minsk from Nazi troops.
AFP Paris

Popes bank clean-up intensies amid dirty cash scandal

AFP Vatican City

ope Franciss bid to take the scandal-dogged Vatican bank in hand has stepped up a gear, experts said on Tuesday, with the ousting of top management from the institution following the launch of a special papal probe. Officially, Paolo Cipriani and Massimo Tulli, director and deputy director of the bank, handed in their resignations on Monday in the best interest of the institute and the Holy See . The banks president, Ernst von Freyberg, put their decision down to a need for new leadership to increase the pace of bringing the institution in line with international standards against money laundering . Religious and judicial specialists on Tuesday said that the Vatican had forcibly shed two long-serving chiefs who survived the unceremonious eviction in May 2012 of the former head, Ettore Gotti Tedeschi,

purportedly for poor management but amid reports of money-laundering. Their expulsion was deemed opportune by the Vatican, according to Fiorenza Sarzanini in the Corriere della Sera daily, because Cipriani and Tulli are of interest in an inquiry launched by Rome prosecutors in 2010 into money-laundering. The investigation is set to wind up in the next few days and will likely see them charged, she said, for knowingly permitting illicit activities to be carried out . The police probe began with the spectacular seizure of 23mn euros ($26mn) from the Institute for Religious Works (IOR) as the bank is known after suspicious cash transfers set alarm bells ringing. The money was released once the IOR agreed to co-operate in the investigation, but Rome prosecutors continued to investigate Cipriani, Tulli and Gotti Tedeschi. With the right connections, anyone for years now has been able to open an account with the

Vatican joins network against money laundering

The Vatican said yesterday that it had joined a global network of government agencies fighting against money laundering, as part of its efforts to reform its scandal-ridden finances. The move was recognition of the Vaticans systematic efforts in tracking and fighting money laundering, said Rene Bruelhart, head of the Vaticans Financial Intelligence Authority. The Vatican said in a statement that the Egmont Group, which consists of more than 130 national financial intelligence units, had announced the move at a meeting in South Africa. Membership of the network facilitates the exchange of information in the fight against financial crime, the statement said. The Vatican is undertaking reforms in a bid to be included on a white list of countries combating money laundering compiled by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The Vatican bank, the Institute for Religious Works, is at the centre of a wide-ranging enquiry by Italian financial police and its director-general and his deputy resigned this week.

Vatican bank and clean enormous sums of money. At the last conclave (to elect the pope), the cardinal electors called for a turnaround, Vatican expert Paolo Rodari wrote in La Repubblica daily. Cipriani and Tulli are also reported to have close ties to cleric Nunzio Scarano, who worked for years as a Vatican accountant,

and was arrested on Friday on suspicion of plotting to smuggle 20mn euros of dirty money into Italy from Switzerland. The reaction was immediate. The Curia (the Holy Sees administrative apparatus) understood that it was no longer feasible to treat the nancial problems like the paedophilia ones, upping the number of

people transferred and deecting accusations, Carlo Marroni from Il Sole 24 Ore daily said. The arrest and clear-out of two of the banks big wigs were the rst results of cure imposed by Pope Francis , he said. What has been hailed as a potential revolution by many religious watchers began with the appointment mid-June of cleric Battista Mario Salvatore Ricca to oversee the IORs management effectively placing one of Franciss trusted allies in a key position to report to him. Last week, the 76-year-old Pontiff followed this by installing a special ve-member commission tasked with investigating the bank and reporting their ndings to him personally. The commissions rst report is expected in October, and may spark wider reforms of the murky institute. Marco Politi, religious expert for Il Fatto Quotidiano daily, said that despite rumours the institution could be scrapped, the Pope does not intend to abolish the IOR, because the Vatican

needs a bank, but he wants to return to its initial role . The IOR, which does not lend money, handles funds for Vatican departments, Catholic charities and congregations as well as priests and nuns living and working around the world. The inquiry into Scarano was the straw that broke the camels back, said La Stampa daily. Experts are now watching to see if more heads will role at the bank, which has a troubled history, including the collapse of the Banco Ambrosiano, in which the Holy See was the main shareholder, and which had been accused of laundering money for the Sicilian maa. The chairman of Banco Ambrosiano, Roberto Calvi dubbed Gods Banker in the press was found hanging from Blackfriars Bridge in London in 1982 in a suspected mob hit. A string of recent reports in Italian media about anonymous accounts at the bank being used by organised crime gures and fraudsters suggest there may still be more fall out to come.

union representing workers at Air France criticised the airline yesterday for giving former rst lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy a free Paris-toNew York ight despite losses and job cuts at the struggling airline. Bruni-Sarkozy, the former model and singer who married then-president Nicolas Sarkozy in 2008, ew on June 23 to New York, where she was promoting her latest album. Under a longstanding tradition, former French presidents and their families are allowed to y for free on Air France, which is partly state-owned. However, labour activists said that it was time to rethink that policy now that the airline is struggling with signicant losses and has announced plans to cut thousands of jobs. The free ight has gone down badly with employees when we are being led to believe that the situation (at the airline) is catastrophic, said Leon Cremieux of the SUD union. Were no longer in a monarchy, he said. An Air France spokesman said only that the free ights for expresidential families were a tradition . As in many other countries, former French heads of state and their family members continue to receive state-funded protection and services after leaving office. In France, these benets include free travel on Air France and the national rail network, as well as a car with two drivers.

Norway youth party camp returns

AFP Oslo

T
Police officers keep watch on the opening day of the AUF (Workers Youth League) camp at Vikersund in Modum. The AUF is Norways largest political youth organisation and is affiliated with the Norwegian Labour Party.

he AUF youth wing of Norways Labour Party opened yesterday its rst summer camp since 2011, the year of a massacre by Anders Behring Breivik that left 69 people dead. People began gathering yesterday for the camp which did

not take place in 2012 but has this year attracted hundreds more attendees than in 2011. In a show of deance by the youth movement, around 800 young Norwegians had signed up, compared with a total of 560 participants two years ago. The summer camp will be run as normal to the greatest degree possible, AUF chairman Eskil Pedersen said. Were proud to hold a summer camp once again,

and its an important step for us to take. The camp is not being held on the island of Utoeya this year but at the nearby hamlet Gulsrud on the banks of the same lake, as the facilities where the attack took place are being renovated. People are putting up their tents and ... enjoying themselves and looking forward to getting started, Pedersen said. To beef up security, the organ-

isers have been in close contact with the police before the event and officers will be present at the site. The renovation of Utoeya was postponed after some of the survivors opposed plans to tear down some of the buildings. Work will begin at the end of next year at the former site, according to Pedersen. Breiviks attack began in Oslo on July 22, 2011, where a massive

bomb outside the main government building killed eight, before he travelled to the island to carry out a shooting spree. Most of the victims were teenagers. He claimed the killings were a protest against multiculturalism. In August 2012, Breivik was sentenced to Norways maximum sentence of 21 years in prison, which can be extended indenitely if he is deemed to continue to pose a threat to society.

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Gulf Times Thursday, July 4, 2013

INDIA
APPOINTMENT CRIME SURVEILLANCE EDUCATION AWARD

Drama school to get a new chief soon

Culture Minister Chandresh Kumari Katoch said yesterday a new director for the National School of Drama (NSD) would be appointed soon. The previous director was supposed to retire in 2011, but she was given an extension of a year. The process for the appointment of a new director began in August 2012, Katoch said. The process is nearly over, she said. As there was a delay in the appointment of the new director, academics and theatre artistes wrote to the ministry of culture. We had sent the file to the Prime Ministers Office (PMO) in February. There is a process we follow to get the final approval. They had some queries and everything got delayed because of this, Katoch said.

Gangsters brother shot dead in Varanasi

A cousin of alleged mafia don Brijesh Singh was gunned down in Varanasi yesterday, police said. The killing appears to be the result of gang rivalry. The assailants who came on a motorcycle shot him seven times at the busy Dhaurhara market as bystanders watched in horror. The killers escaped. In panic, shopkeepers immediately downed their shutters. Police said the victim had many criminal cases registered against him. Brijesh Singh, who is feared in eastern Uttar Pradesh, has had a long history of rivalry with politician Mukhtar Ansari. At least three people have died in the gang war in recent years.

AAP condemns denial of asylum to Snowden

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) yesterday condemned the central government for denying asylum to fugitive former CIA agent Edward Snowden who blew the whistle on US surveillance. The Aam Aadmi Party condemns these cowardly acts of our government and demands that as a country governed by a constitution which protects civil liberties, and committed to protecting whistleblowers, the government must stand up to the US and offer political asylum to Snowden, the AAP said in a statement. Snowden, who is holed up in the transit lounge at Moscow airport, has sought asylum from 21 countries including India. His US passport has been revoked.

Students get scholarship for Singapore school

Seven Class 10 students from across India have received the Global Indian International Schools C V Raman scholarships this year to study at its prestigious Singapore branch. The seven qualified the GIIS national level scholarship exam in April and the subsequent general discussion and interview in May. They have left for the GIIS flagship school in Singapores Queenstown. The S$66,000 scholarship includes one-time return airfare, visa and tuition fees, boarding and lodging at the hostel, one-time settling down allowance of S$500 and S$200 per month for pocket expenses. The GIIS has 20 campuses in seven countries including India, Singapore, Japan and the UAE.

Global honour for Mumbai ornithologist

Renowned ornithologist and director of the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) Asad Rahmani has been conferred with the prestigious Member of Honour Award of the British-based BirdLife International, an official said yesterday. The award was presented by Princess Takamado of Japan during the recently held BirdLife International World Congress in Ottawa, Canada, attended by representatives from over 120 countries. It is in recognition of Rahmanis contribution to research and conservation of birds in India in general and for his work in saving the Great Indian Bustard in particular. Conservation of species is always a team work and I devote this award to the BNHS team and the entire Indian Bird Conservation Network, Rahmani said.

Govt vows to free CBI from political interference

Agencies New Delhi

Tough life

he government promised in court yesterday to reform the countrys top police agency to give it greater independence as it carries out politically sensitive corruption investigations. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), nominally independent but long suspected of being under government inuence, was rebuked by the Supreme Court earlier this year which called it a caged parrot. CBI investigators probing alleged graft in the government allocation of coal mining licences admitted sharing a report on the case with officials in the law and prime ministers offices before it was presented in court.

The government says it will amend the 1946 Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, which created the CBI
The CBI has undertaken several high-prole graft investigations in the second term of the government, including into the coal scandal, the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games and the allocation of telecom licences. An affidavit approved by the cabinet and led in the Supreme Court yesterday said the government would amend the 1946 Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, which created the CBI. It promised to set up a threemember Accountability Commission of retired judges to investigate complaints and said a senior bureaucrat would monitor CBI-led trials to prevent meddling. The government shall not interfere with investigation or disposal of cases, the government said in the affidavit. Changes were also proposed to bolster the independence of the CBI chief, who would be ap-

pointed by a three-member panel comprising the prime minister, the Supreme Court chief justice and the leader of the opposition in parliament. Only the president would be able to sack him. The CBI chief will have a term of not less than two years. The director, the affidavit said, will not be transferred without the prior consent of the three-member committee. The government told the court that a bill containing the necessary amendments will be introduced in parliament. The proposed committee will recommend an Indian Police Service officer to be the CBI chief on the basis of seniority, integrity and experience in the investigation of anti-corruption and criminal cases. Besides giving a secured tenure of two years, the government said the officer can only be removed by the president on grounds of proven misbehaviour or incapacity. An inquiry into allegations of misbehaviour or incapacity would be made by the Central Vigilance Commissioner. During the inquiry, the president may suspend the CBI director and, if necessary, could prohibit him from attending office. The affidavit follows a Supreme Court order of May 8 asking what steps the government intended to take to uphold the CBIs autonomy and to insulate it from political and bureaucratic interference. The court had sought an unambiguous assurance, very clear and candid assurance from the government that law will be in place in a particular time. The CBI, whose report on the coal block scandal is still to be made public, has been probing charges by the national auditor last August that the government may have given away $33bn in windfall gains to rms to mine coal. Manmohan Singh, in addition to being prime minister, was coal minister for much of the period under police scrutiny. The CBI has also been accused in the past of going slow in probing charges of corruption against high-prole political gures, resulting in either their acquittal or non-prosecution.

Children stand next to a labourer working on the banks of river Ganges in the northern city of Allahabad yesterday.

Bank hopefuls will nd the going tough: experts

Stiff requirements on branch placement and liquidity make for an arduous path to profitability and scale
Reuters Mumbai

Model auditions

ompanies looking to set up Indias rst new banks in nearly a decade have a long and costly road ahead of them. While corporate heavyweights from the Tata, Birla and Bajaj groups to Anil Ambanis Reliance Capital are among those applying for the right to establish full-edged banks, the pool of 26 hopefuls was smaller than analysts had expected. Stiff requirements on branch placement and liquidity make for an arduous path to protability and scale, and have deterred some would-be applicants. It will require a considerable amount of marketing expense for branch expansion, said Vijay Mahajan, founder of microlender

Basix, which considered applying for a licence but did not. You have to be protable at the same time. If you have a bank which has losses for seven years continuously, nobody will put their deposits there. Banks must keep 27% of deposits at the central; Reserve Bank of India and in government bonds, even in their startup years. That means they can lend only 73 of every Rs100 raised in deposits. One in four branches must also be set up in rural areas where no bank now exists - an expensive endeavour. While those requirements are the same for existing lenders, the rules were implemented after incumbent banks had already built scale. For example, the rural branch criterion only applies to new branches. One blue chip corporate house expected to be among the front-runners for a licence opted against applying. Mahindra & Mahindra Financial Services, a non-bank nance

company (NBFC) and part of the Mahindra Group, said it was put off by the liquidity rules and the requirement to convert all existing branches to full-service bank offices within 18 months while at the same time setting up new rural branches. The lure of banking is the ability to raise low-cost deposits and generate fat margins. Net interest margins for Indian private sector banks are around 3.5%, among the highest in the world. Gathering retail deposits requires building up a branch network. Yes Bank, which opened in 2004 and is the last new bank in India, has said it wants to have 900 branches by 2015. With 430 branches at the end of March, it would need to rapidly accelerate openings from its annual average pace of 56 over the last four years. Yes Bank generates 18.9% of its deposits from current and savings accounts. For mid-sized banks in India, the average is 28-30%, said Manish Ostwal, an

analyst at KR Choksey Shares & Securities. But to lure depositors, new banks like Yes Bank need to offer higher deposit rates, eating into the margins they earn from lending. Yes Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank and IndusInd Bank, among Indias newer banks, pay 6 to 7% interest on savings deposits. Most Indian banks pay 4%. As a result, Yes Banks cost of funds - what it pays in interest to depositors and through borrowings - was 8.6% in the scal year that ended in March, while IndusInds was 8.5%. The average among the three biggest private sector banks was about 6.4%. Like existing lenders, new banks will also have to make 40% of their loans to the priority sector, including small businesses, retail traders and agriculture, which tend to generate smaller margins than other loans. Protability will take a dip, it will take four to ve years to get to the same level of protability as we are now, said Nirmal Jain,

chairman of India Infoline, a brokerage that applied for a bank licence. The central bank has not said how many licences it will award, although the number is widely expected to be around ve and the winners are expected to be named in 2014. Besides the usual corporate heavyweights, strong candidates include L&T Finance Holdings, part of Indias largest engineering conglomerate Larsen & Toubro, as well as Shriram Capital, part of one of Indias biggest NBFCs. Some applicants roped in big names to bolster their chances. JM Financial has tied up with former Citigroup CEO Vikram Pandit. Reliance Capital lined up Japans Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank and Nippon Life Insurance to own between 4 and 5% each. We are going for it because banks are much better placed for long-term growth. Its a much better source for raising funds and its a stable business, India Infolines Jain said.

State banks to open 10,000 branches this year

AFP New Delhi

I
Models wait for their turn to appear before the judges during the Indian Lakme Fashion Week (LFW) model auditions in Mumbai yesterday. Some 86 Indian and international models participated in the audition from which seven models were selected. The LFW Winter/Festive 2013 collection show is scheduled to be held in Mumbai in August.

ndias state-run banks will open 10,000 branches this year as part of a drive to extend formal nancial services to the estimated 40% of the country without them, Finance Minister P Chidambaram said yesterday. Spreading banking services is a key part of the governments new cash transfer programme, that sees welfare beneficiaries receiving direct payments instead of subsidised

products in an attempt to minimise corruption by middlemen and waste. The public sector banks will open 10,000 branches this year. Out of these 2,000 will be regional rural banks, Chidambaram told a news conference. The banking system should be the strongest pillar of the direct benets transfer (scheme). For every beneciary there should be a bank account, he added, saying 50,000 new state banking jobs would be created this year. In January the government rolled out the Direct Benets

Transfer scheme which aims to distribute as much as possible of Indias $61bn welfare budget in cash instead of distributing subsidised products such as gas or kerosene.

The banking system should be the strongest pillar of the direct benefits transfer (scheme)
Welfare schemes such as

scholarships for education and old-age pension benets are also switching over to the new system. As well as the bank branches, Chidambaram said nearly 100,000 other financial outlets would be created this year including banking kiosks and ATMs to help achieve financial inclusion through technology. Lack of access to formal nancial institutions often forces villagers to build up savings in cash, or borrow money from family and friends or unscrupulous moneylenders.

India has just 26 state-run, 20 private and 40 foreign banks with another 2,200 rural and co-operative banks covering other parts of the country. The central Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is in the process of issuing the rst new banking licences in a decade and it received 24 applications before a deadline closed on Monday. The banking drive comes as the Congress-led government struggles to stimulate the economy, which grew at a decade-low of 5% last year, ahead of general elections due next year.

Gulf Times Thursday, July 4, 2013

31

INDIA
India to question US over embassy spying
Agencies New Delhi

he government expressed concern yesterday over reports US intelligence services spied on 38 diplomatic missions including Indias embassy in Washington, saying it would take up the issue with US authorities. We have seen and studied media reports of our embassy in Washington being amongst a list of diplomatic missions which were intrusively monitored by US agencies, a spokesman for the external affairs ministry said. Obviously we are concerned at such disconcerting reports and we will certainly raise with US authorities these serious allegations, Syed Akbaruddin told reporters in New Delhi. The Guardian newspaper reported at the weekend that US intelligence services were spying on 38 embassies and diplomatic missions or targets of its allies including India. The report was based on documents provided by former US intelligence contractor Edward Snowden, who has become an international fugitive. The comments come after External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid on Tuesday defended the vast US surveillance programme of phone logs and Internet data revealed by Snowden. Some of the information they got out of their scrutiny, they were able to use it to prevent serious terrorist attacks in several countries, Khurshid told reporters in Brunei. Akbaruddin said yesterday that the minister was not referring to reports of spying on embassies, which he said was a separate issue. US President Barack Obama has stopped short of acknowledging any spying by the US but suggested snooping by the worlds intelligence services is widespread.

Government okays huge food subsidy programme

The multi-billion dollar populist food welfare programme will be the largest in the world
AFP New Delhi

Labourers load 50kg sacks of wheat into a truck at a grain distribution point on the outskirts of Amritsar in Punjab. The government yesterday launched a welfare scheme to give cheap food to hundreds of millions of people.

he government yesterday approved a vast food welfare programme targeting the poor as it sought to increase its popularity before national elections next year. The cabinet has unanimously approved the food security ordinance, Food Minister K V Thomas told reporters, adding that the measure would be sent to President Pranab Mukherjee for approval. Mukherjee was due to pass the long-delayed National Food Security Bill as an ordinance, meaning it would come into law immediately but must eventually be approved by parliament. The multi-billion dollar populist food welfare programme will be the largest in the world, offering subsidised grains to nearly 70% of the population, or more than 800mn people. The agship programme has been pushed strongly by ruling Congress Party chief Sonia Gandhi, who has insisted on honouring a 2009 election pledge despite concerns about the impact on the public nances and food prices. The measure, which government officials have said would increase the annual subsidy bill by around Rs1.1tn ($20bn) is considered key to the Congressled United Progressive Alliances fortunes in the elections due in the rst half of 2014.

The bill had been expected to be cleared by lawmakers in parliament in February, but it was never introduced due to protests from the opposition over corruption which repeatedly disrupted proceedings. Opposition parties have attacked the government for ramming the measure through by decree, saying there has not been enough discussion of its effect on prices and on farmers who must produce more food. Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Brinda Karat said the bill had many aws and now the government wants to push this bill through as an ordinance. A proper discussion in parliament is needed on the measure, she told reporters. The bill guarantees a monthly supply of between 3kg and 7kg of grain per person, depending on their level of income. Food prices have soared in India over the last seven years, causing increased hardship in a country that still struggles to feed its population adequately despite its impressive economic growth over the last two decades. A survey released last year, which Prime Minister Singh called a national shame, showed that 42% of children under ve were underweight and 58% of them were physically stunted. One of the ndings stressed by the authors was that malnourished children were rarely hungry, however, but rather badly fed due to widespread ignorance about nutrition. Critics of the food programme also say that India can ill-afford

such a costly subsidy at a time of slowing economic growth and when credit ratings agencies are eyeing the countrys large decit. Indians classed as below the poverty line can already receive subsidised kerosene, cooking gas, fertilisers or wheat through what is the worlds biggest public distribution system. But the chaotic welfare programmes are notoriously inefficient and riddled with corruption. A study by the Planning Commission in 2005 showed that an estimated 58% of grains purchased by the government failed to meet their intended targets. Photographs of rotting food grains left out in the open due to a chronic shortage of food storage facilities are also an annual feature in newspapers which report on the waste during the monsoon season. But the Congress-led government sees the bill as addressing one of Indias most intractable problems of malnutrition, which is an embarrassment for an aspiring superpower. Despite the administration difculties and concerns about the cost, strategists for the government also see it as vital vote-winning scheme ahead of elections scheduled for early next year. The Congress, which has a record of passing large welfare programmes such as the 2005 Rural Employment Guarantee Act, has suffered a scandal-hit second term undermined by corruption. The economy has also slowed to its lowest rate of growth in a decade, undermined by low business condence, a lack of market-opening reforms, high ination and poor investment.

Jet-Etihad deal linked to infrastructure investment

AFP New Delhi

Antony visits China today

Defence Minister A K Antony leaves today on a four-day official visit to China. Discussions on the Sino-Indian border and interactions between the armed forces of the two countries are on the agenda during the visit. Antony will be accompanied by Defence Secretary R K Mathur, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Command Lt General Dalbir Singh, Flag Officer Commandingin-Chief Southern Naval Command Vice Admiral Satish Soni, and others from the defence ministry and the armed forces. The last defence minister to visit China was Pranab Mukherjee in 2006. Antony will have delegation-level talks with his counterpart, State Councillor and Minister of National Defence Chang Wanquan. Both ministers are expected to discuss a number of issues, including those related to maintenance of peace and tranquillity on the border, exchanges and interactions between the armed forces of both sides, and matters relating to regional and global security, a statement said. Antonys visit to China comes within days of border talks between the two countries.

SRK becomes father for third time amid sex test controversy
AFP Mumbai

bu Dhabi has promised to invest $50bn in Indias cash-hungry infrastructure at a time when growth in Asias third-largest economy has sharply slowed, a newspaper reported yesterday. The pledge by Abu Dhabi was the key factor in pushing New Delhi to approve a bilateral deal to increase ights between the two countries, an Indian official told the Indian Express. A commitment to invest $50bn in the infrastructure sector of the country by Abu Dhabi was a key reason for us to agree to the increase, a senior government official, who declined to be named, said. News of the investment comes just months after the International Monetary Fund criticised India for not improv-

ing its creaky infrastructure during the period it experienced growth rates close to double gures. The IMF said in February that India would likely see slower growth than expected in 2012/13 at 5.4% and pay the price for failing to ensure investment in infrastructure kept pace with economic growth in the previous decade. The plan to increase ights between the United Arab Emirates and India is linked to a controversial proposal by the Abu Dhabi-based Etihad airline to purchase a 24% stake in Indias Jet Airways for Rs20.5bn ($342mn). That deal, the largest foreign investment proposal in Indias aviation sector, faces regulatory hurdles, with many ministries raising objections over the bilateral increase in ights as well as over control of Jet after the sale. The increase was arrived at

based on the request for a hike in entitlements made by various carriers, including Jet, the government official said. Many of the new seats - a nearly three-fold jump from 13,000 to 36,600 seats - would go to Jet and Etihad. Indias opposition has alleged that the increase in ights was aimed at clinching the Jet-Etihad sale and could divert vital business from ailing state-run agship Air India. The Jet-Etihad deal, announced in April, marked the rst overseas investment in an existing Indian carrier since New Delhi eased restrictions to allow foreign rms to take up to a 49% holding in the countrys airlines. But a request by the Prime Ministers Office on Monday for the plan to be discussed by cabinet provoked new worries about the fate of the sale and sent shares of Jet plunging 6%.

ollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan became a father for the third time at the end of May, Mumbai officials said yesterday, amid a controversy over whether the actor and his wife had undergone an illegal prenatal sex test. A spokesman at Mumbais municipal body said they have received conrmation that a baby boy was born in May in a northern city suburb to Khan, 47, and his wife Gauri. Andheri hospital has informed the BMC health authorities that a boy was born on May 27, 2013, said Vijay Khabale Patil, a spokesman for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). The fathers name was Shah Rukh Khan and the mother was Gauri Khan, he said.

The Khans, already parents to a teenage son and daughter, have made no announcements on the matter but it is standard procedure for hospitals to give details of births in the city to the BMC. The baby is widely reported to have been born by surrogacy, an arrangement in which a woman carries the child of another couple. Back in 2011, fellow Bollywood megastar Aamir Khan and his wife also had a baby boy using a surrogate mother. The news that the birth was as far back as May means the child was born before rumours s u r fa c e d in the media that the Khans were expecting a boy, raising suspi-

cions of an illegal sex test on the foetus. On seeing the reports, the Indian Radiological and Imaging Association wrote to the health officials demanding an investigation. Local media yesterday said the BMC was still investigating the matter, but Patil was unable to conrm this. India bans sex tests because of a preference for sons in the country. Female foeticide has led to a major population imbalance between the sexes. Khan, star of Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge and My Name Is Khan, topped the first Forbes India Celebrity 100 list earlier this year with annual estimated earnings of $37.7mn.

Trucks packed with cash, diamonds, gold seized

AFP Mumbai

nvestigators seized more than 100 bags stuffed with cash, gold and diamond jewellery during a raid on four trucks in Mumbai, marking one of the citys largest such hauls, reports and officials said yesterday. Income tax and anti-terror investigators raided the vehicles on Monday night at a south Mumbai train station after a tip-off and questioned 45 people accompanying the goods, Director General of Income Tax Swatantra Kumar told reporters. Cash amount is about Rs100mn ($1.7m). Verication and valuation of jewellery is in progress. No further details, Kumar said. Income tax officials said they thought the cash

Police guard the trucks which were carrying cash, gold and diamond jewellery. and jewellery was bound for Gujarat, north of Mumbai, as part of a hawala transaction, the Press Trust of India (PTI) news agency reported. The term hawala describes an illegal network used to transfer money without using the formal banking system. It is popular among ordinary

consumers who use it to transfer small amounts, but is also a haven for criminals. According to PTI the couriers travelled with police escorts, who explained that it was a regular practice for police to accompany private couriers carrying high value goods to prevent banditry. Deputy Commissioner of Police Nisar Tamboli told the Mid Day newspaper: For the last 15 years or so, an escort from a local police station is usually provided to these couriers as they carry big sums of cash and other valuables. This is done to prevent robberies and dacoity. Murders have been committed over this. A senior police official told PTI that it is not the polices responsibility to verify whether the cash and jewellery were accounted for or not. The cash and jewellery has not yet been accounted for, officials told PTI.

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Gulf Times Thursday, July 4, 2013

LATIN AMERICA

Colombia peace possible by year end, insists Santos

Reuters Geneva

olombian President Juan Manuel Santos yesterday said an agreement with the Marxist FARC rebels to end their 50-year-old insurgency could be reached by the end of this year if there were sufficient political will .

But he insisted that it was out of the question to postpone next years presidential election, as demanded by the FARC at peace talks with the government currently under way in Havana. If there is sufficient political will, we can achieve an agreement by the end of the year ... as long as there is a wish to advance, Santos told a news conference at the UN European headquarters in Geneva.

The two sides started the talks last November, more than two years after former defence minister Santos - earlier seen as a hardliner on dealing with rebel movements - was elected to the presidency and began putting out peace feelers. That initially lost him popular support, according to opinion surveys, but he is now advancing in the polls with a 48% popularity rating as public approval of negotiating with the insurgents has grown.

Santos said in Geneva that only a deal to end the ghting between leftist guerrillas and the army, which has bedevilled a dozen successive governments, would keep Colombia on a path of sustainable economic development. He said postponing the election was out of the question. I have said from the beginning that I would never make changes to my own benet. That is a matter of principle for me. It (a postponement) would mean

extending my mandate. The FARC, and the smaller ELN rebel grouping, want the voting put off to enable the creation of what they call a Constituent National Assembly to usher in radical constitutional and social changes. At the focus of their long struggle against central governments is what they see as unfair land distribution and policies that excessively benet the rich as well as foreign, especially US, interests.

But Santos has consistently refused to consider any changes to Colombias institutions or its economic model as a condition for the peace talks, and his officials say the FARC appears to be trying to change the terms of the negotiations. In a joint statement published on Monday, the FARC, estimated to have about 10,000 ghters, and their long-time leftwing rivals the ELN, with about 3,000, said that each wanted the

other to be involved in solving the conict. The president, in Geneva for a session of the UNs Economic and Social Council, said he would not agree to include the ELN in the Havana talks or talk with them separately until they released a captured Canadian geologist, Jernoc Wobert. I have often said I am in favour of talking with the ELN, Santos said, but we will have difficulties if they dont move in the right direction.

Peru leaders ambitious gas project faces snags

Reuters Lima

eru has abundant natural gas reserves, but President Ollanta Humalas $11.5bn plan to use them to transform the countrys underdeveloped south is facing mounting hurdles. The US shale gas revolution, left-wing guerrillas who operate near Perus gas elds in the jungle, and difficult negotiations with energy rms have dragged the expected nish line for Humalas agship project far past his 2016 term limit.

Peru has a unique opportunity because it has the resources and the demand
The delays underscore the risks of making natural gas plans, especially in an emerging era dominated by cheap US shale reserves, causing some investors to re-evaluate projects in Peru. Humala wants to diversify Perus fast-growing economy with what would be the rst plastics plants along the Pacic coast of South America while generating power for new mines and providing Peruvians with cheap fuel. The plan calls for a $4bn natural gas pipeline, a $3.5bn petrochemicals factory and $4bn in power plants that would rely on Perus main gas elds, known as Camisea, which have nearly 13tn cubic feet of proven reserves. But two years into his term, no parts of the plan have gone past the design phase. Concessions have yet to be auctioned for the 1,000km pipeline and power plants, while tough negotiations over

ethane supplies for the petrochemicals complex have barely started. Committed investors are impatient. It is not enough to talk about it. Action must be taken, said Sergio Thiesen, the regional head of Brazilian petrochemicals giant Braskem, which would build the $3.5bn factory as part of the plastics hub. Peru has a unique opportunity because it has the resources and the demand. Critics say the projects design is driven by a desire to appeal to voters in Perus poorer south and that it would be cheaper to build the petrochemicals hub at the terminus of the countrys sole existing gas pipeline on the coast near Lima. Humala, who has said he would like to be remembered for the project, likely will not be able to reap political benets from its completion before he leaves office. There is no way this project will be ready in 2016 - any one of the components takes ve years to build, said a high-ranking official deeply involved in Perus energy sector. This is about politics. It doesnt make technical sense: its not well-designed, its incoherent, and will cost twice as much as necessary, said the official, who declined to be identied. Industry experts say the rst petrochemical plant which would produce 1.2mn tonnes of polyethylene a year for sale in Chile, Peru and Colombia - cannot open until 2018. Humala has acknowledged the difficulties the project faces, especially surrounding the pipeline - a crucial initial step that will guarantee gas needed by other investments.

Brazils President Dilma Rousseff stands next to Brazils Vice President Michel Temer during an announcement of the construction of the first 50 port terminals for private use (TUP), at the Planalto Palace in Brasilia yesterday.

Fresh toll protests on Brazilian highways

AFP Brasilia

orries blocked highways across Brazil for a second straight day yesterday as drivers press demands for fuel subsidies, better working conditions, and an end to road tolls, local media reported. The southeastern state of Minas Gerais was the worst hit with some 14 highways blocked off, causing bottlenecks on motorways leading to the business hub metropolises of Sao Paulo and

Belo Horizonte, Brazils thirdbiggest city. Protesters set re to a bus and vandalised three others on a highway linking Belo Horizonte with the capital Brasilia, bringing traffic to a halt for some six hours, O Estado de Sao Paulo daily reported. Following a decision by the authorities to impose nes on those joining the blockade, driver union MUBC told truckers to move off early yesterday - but at a snails pace. The protesters had blocked off the main access road to Latin Americas biggest container

port at Santos in the southeast for 24 hours before it re-opened late Tuesday. The protests come amid the worst social unrest to hit Brazil in more than 20 years as millions rally against poor public services and rampant corruption. The unrest began three weeks ago as Brazil prepared to host the Confederations Cup, dress rehearsal for next years World Cup. Many citizens say the $15bn spent on hosting the sports jamborees is not money well spent and complain the cash should have been invested in infrastructure and social projects.

President Dilma Rousseff responded to the unrest by Tuesday submitting a proposal to Congress to hold a referendum on political reform. And yesterday, the Brazilian senate approved an amended bill to divert prots from the countrys lucrative oil sector toward investment in education and health. The move would see 75% of oil sector prots assigned to education and the remainder to health, the official senate bulletin revealed. An original government proposal to pour all oil-related prots into education had lain

dormant, but the protests of recent weeks have galvanised politicians into action 16 months ahead of presidential elections. The lower house of Congress approved the proposal last week but will have to do so again after the senate on Tuesday made amendments, including assigning some cash to a creaking public health sector. Another amendment provides for 50% of eventual receipts from deep water pre-salt deposits under exploration to go directly to education, with the remainder split between both education and health.

Cuba dissident collects 2010 Sakharov prize

DPA Strasbourg

Official visit

Mexico mass kidnap suspect found dead

Agencies Mexico City

uban dissident Guillermo Farinas collected the European Parliaments Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought yesterday after being allowed to travel for the rst time - three years after he was granted the award. The empty chair that had represented Farinas at the 2010 award ceremony served as a grim reminder that in my country the absence of human rights continues to be the most urgent social need, the dissident said in his acceptance speech. Farinas said it was the growing civic deance of Cubans that had enabled him to collect the prize now, rather than a fundamental change in the political situation. The regime in Havana had been forced to change something so that nothing changes, he added. In October, Cuban President Raul Castro announced that cit-

izens would be allowed to travel abroad without rst obtaining exit permits. But Farinas said the privilege was not available to everybody. Not all Cubans can leave the country freely today, but all Cubans continue to be subjected to the arbitrary nature of a government that considers the universal declaration of human rights as enemy propaganda, he said.

Dawn is breaking in Cuba now. We have risked our lives for this cause and we will not hesitate to do that again
Dawn is breaking in Cuba now, Farinas said of the political struggle he was engaged in. We have risked our lives for this cause and we will not hesitate to do that again. What is at stake here ... is not just a political or economic equation but the basic foundation of life and human coexistence, namely freedom,

Farinas told the parliament in the French city of Strasbourg, where he was accompanied by his mother. Farinas powerful convictions and political activities had led to more than 11 years in prison and 23 hunger strikes, according to parliamentary vice president Gianni Pittella. Your courage almost cost you your life, Pittella said. The European Union and its parliament would stand by the Cuban people and their aspirations for democracy, Pittella added. The Sakharov Prize has been awarded to Cubans on two previous occasions, to the late dissident leader Oswaldo Paya in 2002 and the Damas de Blanco (Ladies in White) protest group, who collected their 2005 prize in April. The award, named after Soviet dissident Andrei Sakharov, has been handed out by the parliament since 1988. Its rst recipient was South Africas Nelson Mandela.

Venezuelas President Nicolas Maduro reviews a guard of honour with Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko (right) during his visit to Minsk yesterday.

olice have found the charred body of a suspect in the kidnapping of 12 people from a Mexico City bar, more than a month after the mass abduction, prosecutors said. The body of Dax Rodriguez Ledezma, one of the owners of the Heaven bar, was found alongside the burned remains of his girlfriend and another woman in Huitzilac, a town in the neighbouring state of Morelos, the capitals prosecutors office said. Authorities identied him after comparing DNA samples taken from his brother, Mario Rodriguez Ledezma, a co-owner of the bar who gave himself up to police and is being held in a Mexico City jail on kidnapping charges. The after-hour bars security chief and another employee have also been charged over the May 26 abduction, which took place in broad daylight in the citys trendy Zona Rosa district.

Mario Rodriguezs wife is under preventive detention as authorities investigate whether she had a role in the kidnapping. A third bar owner, Ernesto Espinosa Lobo, was detained last Friday and is also under investigation. The citys top prosecutor, Rodolfo Rios, says the kidnapping may be linked to a dispute between two gangs in Tepito, a rough neighborhood of the capital where several of the victims lived. Meanwhile gunmen have kidnapped at least 17 people after bursting into several homes in a rural municipality in the southern Mexican state of Guerrero, officials said. Traveling in several vehicles, the assailants snatched 12 men, three women and two high school students on Sunday in four areas of the central municipality of Cocula, said Guerrero state government spokesman Jose Villanueva. Public security department sources said the gure may rise because authorities have yet to corroborate other alleged kidnappings reported by more families.

Gulf Times Thursday, July 4, 2013

33

PAKISTAN/AFGHANISTAN
CRISIS MEDIA ASSISTANCE RECORD CASUALTIES

Asian Bank warns about water scarcity in Pakistan

Pakistan is on the verge of being classified as a water scarce country, the Asian Development Bank has warned in a report. Pakistan, which has failed to construct any major water reservoir for the last over 40 years besides facing Indian aggression on the water front, is said to have the storage capacity of only 30-day supply as against the recommended 1,000 days for countries with similar climate. This situation, official sources said, is also very threatening for the agriculture output, which is the backbone of the countrys economy, and requires immediate attention of the government to address the issue of water management and building of additional reservoirs.

Journalists to pay for covering Sharifs China trip

As Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif leaves for China in a 12-seater jet, the media persons who will cover his visit are going to travel by commercial flights and pay for their trips for the first time. There are six journalists from private media going to China, a trip that requires each person an estimated budget of $3,500 (Rs348, 407), a calculation made by the Information Ministry. The PMs four-member delegation includes chief ministers of the Punjab and Baluchistan as well as minister for planning and development. Only those officials are travelling with him who have some business to negotiate during the five-day visit.

USAID helps Pakistan replace electricity meters

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) under Power Distribution Programme is replacing old mechanical and damaged meters with state-of-the-art electrostatic meters in three government-owned power distribution companies (DISCOs), Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO), Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (FESCO) and Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO). More than 20,000 meters have been replaced in LESCO and 9,000 in both FESCO and PESCO in selected sub-divisions where improvements in meter reading and subsequent customer billing can be monitored.

Fish that can live without water discovered

Pakistan Museum of Natural History (PMNH) has brought about 40 specimens of a unique fish, which can live without water, to its repository section for identification and research. The fish, procured from the Botanical Garden, Nowshera during a routine yearly practice of digging and clearing of the drainage channels of Plant Biodiversity Centre, have never been reported from Pakistan and represents the first record of this species from the country. A PMNH researchers team led by Dr Mohamed Rafique, visited the Botanical Garden for gathering data to resolve the mystery of this unique fish recovered from the dried bed.

Civilian deaths in drone strikes in Pakistan drop

The number of reported civilian deaths caused by the CIAs drone campaign in Pakistan is at an all-time low since early 2008 and the average number of people killed in each strike has also fallen sharply over the last few years, a new report said yesterday. The report released by the Bureau of Investigative Journalism and from the New America Foundation shows that to date there have been 13 drone strikes in Pakistan and 82 people have been killed, down from the record 122 strikes and 849 people killed in 2010. Another study has found that drone strikes in Afghanistan caused 10 times more civilian casualties than strikes by manned fighter aircraft.

Islamabad rejects Afghan accusations

Afghanistans army chief says Pakistan has be serious about peace; says Taliban are under Pakistans control; US drone strike kills 17 militants in Pakistan
AFP Kabul/Islamabad

Protest

abul and Islamabad traded insults over the war with the Taliban yesterday, plunging their frosty relations to a new low at a key juncture in efforts to search for peace before Nato withdraws. It was the most explosive in a series of rows that have marred Western efforts to build trust between the two governments, considered integral to forging any lasting peace with the Taliban who have been ghting in Afghanistan for nearly 12 years. It came as a US drone strike targeting the Al Qaeda-linked Haqqani network, blamed by Washington for some of the deadliest attacks in Afghanistan, killed 17 militants in Pakistan, officials said. Afghan army chief of staff General Sher Mohamed Karimi told the BBC in an interview that Pakistan could end the Afghan war in weeks if it were serious about peace. Madrassas have been closed and all the Taliban have been unleashed to Afghanistan, he said. He also said the Taliban are under their control and Pakistan could do far more to promote a nascent peace process. The search for peace in Afghanistan is now an urgent priority as 100,000 US-led Nato combat troops prepare to withdraw next year and Afghan forces take on the ght against insurgents. Pakistan was a key backer of the 1996-2001 Taliban regime in Kabul and is believed to shelter some of the movements top leaders. The West believes Pakistani support is vital to securing any workable peace deal in Afghanistan and officials have recently praised Islamabad for helping to

Afghan army chief of staff General Sher Mohamed Karimi support peace efforts. After talks with Britains leader David Cameron on Sunday, Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif spoke of his governments rm resolve to promote the shared objective of a peaceful and stable Afghanistan . But Afghan President Hamid Karzai has long decried what he sees as Pakistani doubledealing designed to bring about a friendly regime in Kabul, and Karimi said this bad faith extended to Sharifs objections to US drone strikes in Pakistans northwest. He argued that Islamabad had given the lists of militants it wants taken out and claimed US drone strikes are never used against Haqqani or Afghan Taliban . But Pakistani officials told AFP that Afghan and Pakistani militants were among the dead when a US drone strike targeted a Haqqani compound in the tribal belt early yesterday. They said unmanned aircraft red four missiles into the compound in the main market area of the main town of North Waziristan district, Pakistans most notorious hub of Islamist militants. It was the deadliest US drone strike reported in Pakistan since 18 insurgents were killed on the border between North Waziristan and the tribal district of Orakzai on October 11, 2012. Pakistan condemned the

drone strike as a violation of sovereignty, as it does routinely despite leaked US diplomatic cables that showed leaders allegedly agreed to them in private. Islamabad categorically rejected Karimis remarks, which laid bare the mistrust between Kabul and Islamabad despite a February summit hosted by Britain in an effort to ignite peace efforts. Pakistan has exercised extreme restraint in the face of highly provocative language used by the Afghan civil and military officials over the last few months, not to mention some totally fabricated accusations, its foreign ministry said. Pakistan said it would not be deterred in its efforts to support international efforts to bring peace and stability to Afghanistan and accused elements in the Afghan government of insincerity. It called on Afghan officials to refrain from levelling baseless allegations and work towards creating a conducive environment that helps advance the shared objectives of peace, stability and prosperity . Pakistani tribal affairs and Taliban expert, Rahimullah Yusufzai, told AFP that Afghans were lashing out at Pakistan to disguise their own weakness as the country lurches towards uncertain presidential elections next April. There is a problem inside Afghanistan. A large number of Afghans dont accept their present government and they oppose the presence of foreign forces in Afghanistan, Yusufzai told AFP. In the past decade, Pakistan has seen the emergence of its own Taliban movement that has claimed thousands of lives in a domestic insurgency and campaign of terror. It is a wrong perception in Afghanistan and the West that Pakistan can do everything, said Yusufzai. Pakistan can negotiate with them for a peaceful solution of the Afghanistan problem but cant dictate them, he added.

Employees of provincial governments education department help a colleague who set himself on fire to protest against non-payment of their salaries in Karachi, Pakistan, yesterday.

Easing trade with India may increase Pakistans GDP

Internews Islamabad

akistans economic growth could rise by 1.5% in 2014-15 if bilateral trade with India is liberalised, experts said. This was discussed during the rst of a series of seminars to engage stakeholders from Pakistan and India on the way forward for trade normalisation. The seminar was organised by the commerce ministry and attended by senior diplomats from the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation countries and industry and academia representatives. During the seminar, the commerce ministry discussed the research conducted by the Institute of Public Policy (IPP) of the Beaconhouse National University on the dynamics and impact of trade liberalisation

between Pakistan and India. The IPPs research was led by renowned economist Dr Haz Pasha. According to the research, conservative estimates show that the opening of trade with India will mainly benet Pakistan. The IPPs economic model predicts that if trade with India is normalised, Pakistans GDP would increase by at least 1.5% in 201415 and almost 169,000 jobs would be created over three years. The estimated gain for consumers, in terms of lower cost of goods purchased, would be at least Rs70bn per year. Furthermore, the savings in logistics costs of imports from India are expected to be signicant. Dr Pashas research also shows that Pakistans total annual import bill would decline by Rs70bn if costlier imports are substituted by imports from India. Cheaper imports of intermediary goods that are used by

Pakistans manufacturing sector would not only help reduce inationary pressures in the country, but also make Pakistani exports more competitive globally and thus contribute to an increase in the total exports. The seminar participants believed that Pakistan should improve its trade infrastructure at the Wagah border and open more land borders to reduce the cost of imports from India. It should also harmonise product classication codes to prevent disagreements during clearance of Pakistani exports by the Indian Customs. Both India and Pakistan should implement the customs agreement to simplify customs procedures. Furthermore, the establishment of bank branches should also be facilitated to remove trade barriers related to payment and repatriation of prots across the border. Pakistans former ambassa-

dor to the World Trade Organisation and renowned economist, Dr Manzoor Ahmed, highlighted the increase in Pakistans exports to India and the revenue gained by the Pakistani government since March 2012, when both the countries began the process of normalising bilateral trade. He explained the current status of Pakistans trade policy towards India and outlined the major steps that both the countries needed to take to move the process forward. He suggested that Pakistan needed to eliminate its negative list, allow import of all goods through Wagah and build the National Tariff Commissions capacity. Pakistans exports through the Wagah border have escalated from Rs3mn in 2007-08 to almost Rs3bn now, he said. This is an exceptional growth that Pakistan has not achieved with any other country.

Ex-Taliban official vows to protect Afghan women

Reuters Kabul

ust 16 years ago, Abdul Rahman Hotak helped prop one of the worlds most austere regimes for women as a newspaper editor and bureaucrat for the Taliban. Now, as a one of Afghanistans top human rights protecters, he says he has turned a corner. Sitting in a small grassed yard outside his new office at the Afghanistans Independent Human Rights Commission, Hotak insists on being a voice in favour of hard-won womens rights in the deeply conservative country, still ranked as one of the worlds most dangerous places to be born a girl. Unfortunately there are many people who are against women in this country, many of whom Ive worked with in the past, the heavily bearded Hotak told Reuters in a rare interview,

passionately gesturing under a dark striped turban. As a commissioner, I will continue to work with women rights activists to lessen the burden and plight of Afghan women. President Hamid Karzais naming of Hotak among ve new rights commissioners has raised questions about his commitment to protecting women as most international combat troops leave the country and his government looks to fragile negotiations with the Taliban. Hotaks controversial past, including rumours of having been an aide to the Talibans oneeyed leader, Mullah Mohamed Omar, has raised alarm from civil rights activists including the New York-based Human Rights Watch and UN rights commissions. Even before the Taliban emerged a formidable post-civil war force in 1994, Hotak was the editor-in-chief of the Talibans

Abdul Rahman Hotak, one of Afghanistans top human rights protecters, speaks during an interview in Kabul. Afghan Sunrise newspaper in southern Kandahar province, where the Islamist movement was founded. Hotak denies serving directly under Omar, and says he joined the radical movement in its early days to serve his country and help it recover from decades of bloody civil war that had left

much of Kabul in ruins. But he says he never agreed with much of the oppressive ideology during Taliban rule between 1996 and 2001 which barred women from almost all work and education, as well as voting, decreeing them un-Islamic and imposing harsh punishment for infringements. Everyone in Afghanistan had links with one group or another and I am not exceptional, Hotak said. Even Sima Samar, the chair of the independent human rights commission and a perpetual Nobel Peace Prize nominee, has questioned Hotaks appointment, warning it could breach commitments to international backers as a condition of aid made at last years Tokyo donor summit. Samar, who won renown as a erce opponent of the head-totoe covering burqa for women, said the appointment risked damaging the credibility of the

nine-member commission, appointed by Karzai but which acts independently. UN Human Rights chief Navi Pillay also warned that the latest appointments compromised the commissions political independence and effectiveness. Many Afghan women feel they may bear the brunt of efforts to bring insurgents into a political settlement to end the 12-year Nato-led war, with a step back to some of the conditions they faced before the US-backed overthrow of Taliban rule in 2001. In the 12 years since, women have regained basic rights and made steps towards more effective political representation with a quarter of seats in the parliament reserved for females. The government has also tried to recruit more women into the police and military. Hotak, in a possible gesture of moderation, agreed to shake hands with a female reporter,

which is unusual for past or present members of the Taliban in Afghanistan. But he also voiced scepticism about new Elimination of Violence against Women legislation in preparation since 2005 which has sparked a furore in parliament. If passed, the bills would outlaw forced or underage marriage, as well as rape and violence against women, including within families. Our third amendment says no law can violate Islam, but now we have this law violating Islam, Hotak said. A law needs to be made so Muslims and civil society can accept it, so people feel comfortable with the law. Religious-leaning lawmakers have previously objected to at least eight of the 22 articles in the legislation, including keeping the legal age for women to marry at 16, the existence of shelters for domestic abuse victims and the halving of the number of wives permitted to two.

34

Gulf Times Thursday, July 4, 2013

PHILIPPINES

China executes Filipina drug trafficker

Vice President Jejomar Binay and a spokeswoman for President Benigno Aquino used their messages of condolence to appeal to Filipinos to resist the temptation to serve as drug mules into China
AFP Manila

A Filipino student holds up a placard at a rally against the proposed US-Philippines military access agreement held outside the gate leading to the Malacanang presidential palace, Manila on Tuesday.

Church wary of access to bases

By Johanna M Sampan & Jefferson Antiporda Manila Times

n official of the Catholic church and several lawmakers yesterday cautioned the government against making hasty decisions regarding allowing temporary basing rights to foreign troops, particularly from the US and Japan. Bishop emeritus Deogracias Iniguez, Public Affairs committee chairman of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), said the church will denitely contest

the plan to grant foreign forces access to Philippine bases if they perceived that the country is slowly being colonised. The church will enter the frame if it involves moral issues such as foreign colonialism, imperialism. If that happens, we will certainly talk because that is a moral violation of us being a sovereign nation, Iniguez said. We must make sure that this will not result to us being held by the neck, he added. The prelate appealed to the government to thoroughly study the agreement before

making any decision. We have to study this very well if it will be beneficial to our country or not, Iniguez said. Defence Secretary Voltaire Gazmin earlier said the country is studying giving the US and Japan access to Philippine bases through an official agreement. President Benigno Aquino backed the proposal but assured that the settlement would be temporary and necessary to familiarise foreign troops with the Philippine terrain. Some senators said the matter should be studied rst.

Sen Jose Victor JV Ejercito Estrada said that while he sees no problem with the plan, there is a need to clearly define the limits of the access. We also need the commitment of these countries. We have to make sure that they would help us on our external conicts, Ejercito Estrada noted. He said the Philippines already saw the extent of the commitment of the US government to the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) at the height of the territorial dispute between the Philippines and China over Panatag (Scarborough) shoal last year.

hina put to death a Filipina drug trafficker yesterday, the Philippine foreign department said, after Beijing ignored Manilas request to spare her life. The woman was put to death two days after briey seeing her family on Monday, foreign department spokesman Raul Hernandez said. She was arrested in 2011. It is with profound sadness that we conrm that our Filipina (compatriot) was executed in China this morning, a sombre Hernandez told a news conference. The Department of Foreign Affairs would like to express its deepest sympathy and condolences to the family of the Filipina as they mourn the loss of their loved one, he added, declining to name the woman at her familys request. The life of every Filipino is valuable and we pray that this is the last time that a tragedy like this befalls any of our countrymen. Vice President Jejomar

A man repairs a tricycle in an alley that allegedly leads to a residential unit of a relative of a Filipino woman executed in China for drug smuggling, in northwestern Manila yesterday. Binay and a spokeswoman for President Benigno Aquino used their messages of condolence to appeal to Filipinos to resist the temptation to serve as drug mules into China. Its not worth it. You are gambling with your life here. There is no amount that is worth your life, Binay said in a statement. However unfortunate, we hope that this will serve as a continuing lesson to our citizens not to allow themselves to be victimised and to fall prey to these (drug) syndicates, Aquino spokeswoman Abigail Valte said in a statement. About a tenth of the Philippines 100mn people work abroad, many of them under harsh conditions. Drug traffickers sometimes exploit them into becoming drug mules. The woman was arrested along with her male cousin for heroinsmuggling in 2011 and both were later sentenced to death. But the cousin won a two-year reprieve, according to the Philippine government. The woman was the fth convicted drug smuggler from the Philippines to be executed by China since March 2011, when two women and a man were put to death for the crime. A second Filipino was executed in December 2011.

Philippines set to buy two Maestrale frigates from Italy

AFP Manila

he Philippines is set to buy two Maestrale-class frigates from Italy, a defence official said yesterday, as the Asian nation races to upgrade its military amid mounting territorial disputes with China. The frigates, along with 12 FA-50 ghter aircraft, are the most signicant items on the governments 75bn-peso ($1.7bn) military modernisation budget over the next ve years, Defence Undersecretary Fernando Manalo said. We are modernising not because we want to go to war with China, he told a news conference. He said the government had a sworn obligation to defend the West Philippine Sea, using the govern-

File photo of a Maestrale class frigate. ments preferred term for Philippine-claimed areas in the South China Sea. We are not saying that this is part of our preparations to assert our sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea. What we are saying is that we cannot just give them up. The frigates would add to two refurbished Hamiltonclass cutters formerly used by the US Coast Guard that the Philippines acquired from its US ally to upgrade its ageing navy eet, which includes some vessels that rst saw action in World War II. Manalo said the navy had already decided to ac-

quire two new Maestraleclass frigates instead of buying used ones from the Italian navy, and had budgeted 18bn pesos for them. The Philippines could be ready to tender by the end of the year, he added. Meanwhile, the government had alloted 18.9bn pesos to acquire the fighter aircraft, which are built by South Korea, he added. The modernisation budget also provides for building or improving facilities to berth and provide maintenance to the vessels on the militarys shopping list, Manalo said. President Benigno Aquino vowed Monday to rebuild the air force by 2016. The Philippines, which has one of the weakest military forces in the region, retired the last of its US-designed F-5 fighters in 2005.

Supreme Court blocks generals graft plea bargain

AFP Manila

Five youth shot dead

AFP Manila

he Philippine Supreme Court yesterday blocked efforts by a senior general facing massive graft charges to enter a plea bargain which would have let him post bail and walk free in a few years, keeping much of the money. The court issued an order which temporarily blocks a special anti-graft court from going ahead with the plea bargain deal involving former military comptroller Major General Carlos Garcia. This will give the Supreme Court time to consider a government petition which asks it to intervene in Garcias case and possibly to stop the plea bargain, said court spokesman Theodore Te. The government, which wants tougher punishment for the general as part of a crackdown on official corruption, welcomed the top courts action.

The issuance of a temporary restraining order against the questioned plea bargain is a welcome development given the position taken by the Philippine government, said President Benigno Aquinos spokeswoman Abigail Valte in a statement. Garcia is accused of using his post as the militarys top nance official to steal as much as 303mn pesos ($6.99mn), allowing his family to amass a real estate fortune in the US and the Philippines. The case came to light in 2003 when US customs officials seized $100,000 in undeclared cash from his two sons at San Francisco airport after a commercial ight from the Philippines. However in a controversial development, a special anti-graft court ruled in May 2011 that Garcia could plead guilty to lesser charges and avoid serious punishment if he just returned 135.43mn pesos. The now-retired general had previously posted bail on the lesser charges.

ive young men were shot dead before dawn yesterday in a street on the outskirts of the Philippines main business district, police said. The victims, all related to each other and in their early 20s, were attacked as they walked home from a party, said Chief Superintendent Anthony Gandang, operations chief for the Makati business district in Manila. They were just walking home when three men arrived on motorcycles and opened re on the young men and then immediately ed, he said. This is the rst time I can recall of something like this happening with so many victims in just one incident, Gandang added.

Gulf Times Thursday, July 4, 2013

35

SRI LANKA/BANGLADESH/NEPAL

Dhaka plans stronger reforms after US move

Bangladesh, desperate to persuade Western retailers to stay put, insists it had drawn up legislative reforms since the deadly garment factory collapse in April, the countrys worst industrial accident
AFP Dhaka

Remittance inow breaks record

By Mizan Rahman Dhaka

angladesh plans more sweeping labour law reforms after the United States withdrew trade privileges over a deadly garment factory collapse, officials said yesterday. Bangladesh expressed outrage last week at President

Barack Obamas decision to cut the countrys duty-free trade privileges over the building collapse in April that killed 1,129 people. The US said the government had failed to protect the fundamental rights of workers. Bangladeshi officials, desperate to persuade Western retailers to stay put, insisted they had drawn up legislative reforms since the disaster, the countrys worst industrial accident. However the cabinet led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina this week set up a committee to review the labour laws again, cabinet secretary Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan said. The committee will suggest further improvements to the la-

bour laws taking into consideration labour rights, investment, productivity and the views of the importing countries, said Bhuiyan.

The committee will suggest further improvements to the labour laws taking into consideration labour rights, investment, productivity and the views of the importing countries
The new committee met on Tuesday in an effort to review and improve draft legislation already being debated in parliament, the top labour official said. Were examining the safe-

ty-related issues of the labour laws, with special emphasis on trade union and factory safety, labour secretary Mikail Shipar said. The US, the European Union and the International Labour Organisation have expressed concern over safety-related issues, he said. Bangladesh is the worlds second largest garment producer after China and the industry is the mainstay of the economy, accounting for 80% of the countrys $25bn annual exports. Retailers from the US and the EU buy the bulk of the exports. The government approved draft legislation in May just weeks after the disaster, which underscored appalling safety

standards and working conditions for employees of the countrys 4,500 garment plants. The reforms were aimed at making it easier to set up unions in garment factories and compensate workers involved in factory accidents. Activists say only two dozen factories all small plants have allowed their workers to form trade unions. Workers in other factories face sacking or harassment for moving to set up a union. Local union leaders rejected the reforms at the time, saying they failed to improve rights and entitlements for millions of garment workers, while exportoriented industrial parks were exempt.

The government also set up a panel to raise the minimum wage for garment workers and has shut down about two dozen factories for poor safety conditions. The US trade privileges had been accorded to Bangladesh under a programme known as the generalised system of preferences (GSP), which eliminates tariffs on imports from 127 countries to aid their development. Although the GSP programme does not cover the garment industry, the move was an embarrassment for the Bangladeshi government which is desperate to convince foreign rms that it is serious about improving safety.

17 injured in Nepal accident

DPA Kathmandu

Strike by Islamists hits normal life

IANS Dhaka

t least 17 people were seriously injured when a bus they were travelling in overturned in central Nepals Chitwan district yesterday. The bus was en route to Janakpur from Kathmandu and the accident took place at 2am on the Hetauda-Narayanghat section of the national highway at Jyamire area in the district, the police said. The injured passengers are undergoing treatment at the Chitwan Teaching Hospital. Three of the injured have returned home after receiving medical treatment at the hospital, police added. The driver and cleaner of the bus ed the spot soon after the accident, police said, adding a search is on to nab them as their negligence is said to be the cause behind the accident.

Lanka and Seychelles sign trade deals

IANS Colombo

dawn-to-dusk strike enforced by the student wing of Bangladeshs largest Islamist party, demanding the release of its central leaders, disrupted normal life across the South Asian country yesterday. The general strike was so far relatively peaceful in Dhaka, with no reported casualties despite unknown miscreants have exploded some handmade crude bombs in parts of Dhaka. A few bombs were reportedly blasted at Dhakas posh Gulshan locality and a covered van was set are in Azimpur in the old part of the city as Islami Chhatra Shibir, the student wing of Bangladesh Jamaate-Islami party, enforced the countrywide. Stray incidents of clashes, explosions, torching and vandalism of vehicles were reported elsewhere in the country. On account of the strike, the traffic movements on the city streets remained relatively thin as most private vehicles were kept indoors. Additional law enforcers have been deployed in Dhaka to avoid any untoward incident during the strike. Jamaat, a key ally of former prime minister Khaleda Zias 18-party alliance, has

he country witnessed record high remittance inow in the just-ended scal year (2012-2013) with $14,460.52mn, thanks to the increase in the remittance ow through the formal channel. Its the highest amount of remittance that the country has ever received in a year, Bangladesh Bank general manager AFM Asaduzzaman said yesterday. He said Bangladesh had received $12,843.43mn in remittance in the 2011-2012 scal year, which was $11,650.31mn in the 2010-2011 scal year. Asaduzzaman, also Bangladesh Banks spokesperson, said the central bank attributed the rise in remittance inows to its increased ow for sending it through the formal banking channel. Mobile banking has also been playing a role. And our foreign missions are also playing an active role in encouraging Bangladeshis to send remittance through the formal banking channel, the BB official said. The central bank hopes that the remittance inows will continue to go up in the coming days. The country received $1,057.63mn in June last year while $1,087.19mn in May.

Chopper crash lands

DPA Kathmandu

Roads were deserted during a countrywide strike in Dhaka, called by Islami Chatra Shibir, the student front of Bangladeshs Jamaat-e-Islami party, to demand the release of its detained president and tracing of other missing leaders, yesterday. been staging demonstration since the incumbent government took the initiative to try those allegedly involved in war crimes during the South Asian countrys nine-month liberation war in 1971. Since January 21 this year, two war crime tribunals dealing with the war crimes cases have delivered verdicts in four cases in which three leaders including a former Jamaat member were sentenced to death while another received life imprisonment. Apart from them, a few leaders of Jamaat and Zias Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) are now behind the bars and facing trials. Jamaat alleges that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinas ruling Bangladesh Awami League party has targeted the party to split the main opposition alliance which has been staging demonstration demanding the restoration of the non-party caretaker system to oversee next general elections slated for early 2014.

t least two Bangladeshi army officers were injured as a military training helicopter crash-landed in the outskirts of the capital yesterday, officials said. Pilot of the helicopter Maj Nazrul Islam and trainee officer Lt Col Ariful Bari were injured as it was forced to crash-land on an open eld at Dhamrai village, the Prothom Alo newspaper reported quoting army officers. The injured officers were rst sent to a nearby private hospital and after initial treatment they were transferred to a combined military hospital in Dhaka.

ri Lanka and Seychelles have signed three agreements during Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakses official visit in Seychelles, the Presidents Ofce said in a statement yesterday. The agreements signed were bilateral air-service agreement, memorandum of understanding (MoU) on vocational training and youth development and MoU on defence co-operation between the two countries. Bilateral discussions between leaders of Sri Lanka and Seychelles were held at the State House in Seychelles. Both our countries are island nations. Therefore we must make sure our voice is heard. We have already set an example in the area of climate change. We can be a role model to the world, Seychelles President James Alix Michel was quoted as saying during the discussion. Since the end of a three-decade war in 2009, the Sri Lankan government has expanded diplomatic relations with special focus on Africa and its nearby countries. The two governments are also planning to begin direct air ights and share information on tourism industry. The discussion also focused on several other areas of mutual interest including sheries, education, culture, tourism, health and renewable energy, the statement said.

Bangladesh seeks to trace 1971 wars graves in India

IANS Agartala

Govt slammed after Lankas sovereign rating downgraded

IANS Colombo

angladesh wants Indias help to identify graveyards in the Indian territory, where slain soldiers of Bangladeshs 1971 Liberation War were buried, an official said yesterday. The Bangladesh government is likely to take the remains of the slain soldiers and try to protect the graveyards with the help of India, the official said. A two-day meeting of officials of Bangladesh and India began in the city to discuss, among other issues, the identication of the burial spots of the 1971 Liberation War. West Tripura district magistrate Kiran Gitte led the Indian side at the meeting, while the Bangladesh team was headed by Brahmanbaria districts Deputy Commissioner Nur Mohammad Majumder. If Bangladesh officials

give us the list of the graveyards, we would denitely try to locate those places, Gitte said. During the nine-month long (March-December) war in 1971 which created an independent Bangladesh from East Pakistan, many Bangladeshi soldiers and muktijoddhas (freedom ghters) who died ghting against Pakistan were buried in the Indian territory.

The Bangladesh government is likely to take the remains of the slain soldiers and try to protect the graveyards with the help of India
The Liberation War, as it is called in Bangladesh, later turned into a fullscale India-Pakistan war, culminating in separation of Dhaka and surrender of over 97,000 Pakistani soldiers to the Indian troops in December 1971. Gitte said: The two-day meeting aimed to discuss prob-

lems relating to border fencing, trans-border crimes and smuggling and maintenance of border pillars. About 80% of the 856-km-long India-Bangladesh international border in Tripura has so far been fenced. More than 61 patches of the India-Bangladesh border with Tripura could not be fenced following objections by border villagers, a Border Security Force (BSF) spokesperson said. The Bangladesh government also has been objecting to the fencing at the zero line, he said. The Tripura government asked the central government to build fences at the actual border (zero line) with Bangladesh to keep border markets, human habitats, roads and government setups inside the fencing. Officials of the BSF, Border Guard Bangladesh and Bangladesh police and customs were also present in the meeting.

ri Lankas government has come under re from the opposition after international rating agency Moodys downgraded the islands sovereign rating. Moodys Investors Service on Tuesday changed the outlook on Sri Lankas B1 foreign currency sovereign rating from positive to stable, and affirmed its B1 foreign currency government bond rating. It said the action was prompted by the stabilisation in the external payments position, following the sizable loss of foreign reserves in 2011, but without enough improvement to support a positive rating action at this time. The agency also noted the pause in the decline in the governments very high debt burden, as ongoing large decits impede a reduction that would be credit positive, Xinhua reported. The rst driver underlying Moodys decision to affirm Sri Lankas B1 rating and revise its outlook from positive to stable is a decline in the strength of the external payments position in the past two years, it said in a statement. According to the latest gures released from the nance ministry, Sri Lankas external debt has reached over $20bn. In response to Moodys revision,

A vendor prepares Sri Lankan notes to bundle them at a shop in Colombo as rupee held steady near an eight-month low yesterday after Moodys cut the rating outlook and dealers said the currency remained under pressure on concerns of further foreign outflows. Sri Lankas main opposition, the United National Party (UNP), criticised the governments economic policies. It comes as no surprise that the international investor community is losing condence in Sri Lanka. To cut the outlook from positive to stable is a huge indictment on the governments current economic management and the validity of the purported development story in the coming years, said Harsha de Silva, economist and UNP parliament member. The recent sell down of foreignheld government paper seemed only the beginning of an emerging crisis of condence, he said in a statement. He called for more nancial transparency and stressed that the infrastructure development taking place around the country was not strengthening the economy as claimed by the government.

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Gulf Times Thursday, July 4, 2013

COMMENT
Chairman: Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah Editor-in-Chief : Darwish S Ahmed Production Editor: C P Ravindran

Baby Wendells mystery illness baffles experts: Community Page 4

P.O.Box 2888 Doha, Qatar editor@gulf-times.com Telephone 44350478 (news), 44466404 (sport), 44466636 (home delivery) Fax 44350474

GULF TIMES Summer schools ll a need for children in Qatar

As schools close for the long summer holiday in Qatar, many parents look for ways in which they can keep their children engaged. Summer schools and camps are a good option as they offer a variety of fun activities to keep children busy and active. However, the summer schools come at a price and many of them are not within the nancial reach of middle-income families. Summer schools and camps offer activities like language courses and classes in ballet, dance, swimming, yoga, cooking and drawing. Some of them are more academically inclined and give coaching in subjects like mathematics and science to ensure that children keep learning even during the vacation. Most of them are exible in their timings as slots can be booked for a week or even one day a week. The fees being charged at most summer schools in Qatar start from QR500 a day, going up to QR5,000 for weeks of activities. A camp that seeks to enhance physical development and a sense of individual success asks for QR200 for registration, besides charging up to QR900 for participating in its summer activities for a week. Another centre charges QR4,800 for eight weeks of a minimum programme of three hours per week. At a sailing academy, a one-week course on learning how to sail a dinghy costs QR950 for children aged six years and above, while a bookstore asks for QR300 as registration fee for manga drawing and QR200 for scrap-booking classes. Some institutions offer summer activities that range from arts and crafts to creativity lessons for children aged between ve and 16 years. These usually cost from QR1,500 to QR3,000. It is not clear if the Supreme Education Council (SEC) has any control over the summer schools activities or any right to regulate their operations and approve their fees. While several expatriate parents complain that the summer schools are too expensive, all of them agree that they ll a need for families who stay back in Qatar during summer months for various reasons. But it will be good if an authority like SEC has an overall control over institutions offering summer courses. The council could issue general guidelines for their working, making sure that their premises are safe and t for the activities they are promoting. Their fee structure should also be monitored and regulated to make sure that they offer the service that parents are paying for. Outdoor activities are limited for children in Qatar because of the gruelling heat of summer months. Instead of children spending their entire time sitting in front of the television or at the computer, summer schools can be a healthy alternative and help them develop new skills, meet new friends and learn new things.

Dr Mohamed Fathy Saoud

HE Dr Sheikh Abdulla bin Ali al-Thani

Qatar Foundation leaders hail the start of a new era

Qatar Foundation pledges to continue to work diligently by helping to achieve the goals of Qatar National Vision 2030 and facilitate the states mission towards a knowledge economy by unlocking human potential
He added: Qatar Foundation will continue to align its vision and mission to that of the State of Qatar. We are committed to contributing to the growth of the nation by investing in human development to continue the journey of the country towards a knowledge economy. We will remain steadfast in achieving our goal to provide a promising and sustainable economy for future generations based on the development of Science and Technology. Saad al-Muhannadi, vice president of Capital Projects and Facilities Management at Qatar Foundation, expressed similar sentiments and praised the inspiring speech of HH Sheikh Tamim. He said: We were inspired by the speech of HH Sheikh Tamim on this special occasion, in which he shed light on the role of the Qatari citizen in the achievement of this countrys development and growth, which requires Qatar Foundation to continue investing in the capacities of Qatari youth, in particular, to be able to achieve the vision of our wise leadership which is aimed at boosting the status of Qatar and its people. Faisal M al-Suwaidi, president of Research and Development at Qatar Foundation, emphasised QFs critical role. Qatar Foundation is contributing through its role in the achievement of a broader framework for the future vision set by HH Sheikh Tamim, which is aimed at developing the health, education, research, culture and sport sectors and at ensuring the proper planning and management to transform Qatar into an advanced country capable of achieving sustainable development, he said. We are confident that with the wise leadership of HH Sheikh Tamim, we will be capable of pursuing the journey launched by HH Sheikh Hamad, for Qatar to become the beacon that guides the people of the region and the whole world in the fields of education, development, science, research, and in other areas. Rashid al-Naimi, vice president of Administration for Qatar Foundation, underlined the significance of this historic moment in the nations development and said: Handing over the reins of power to HH Sheikh Tamim, the Emir of Qatar, indicates the faith of HH Sheikh Hamad in the capacity of the young Qatari generation to complete the process of the countrys progress and development to reach the place it deserves among other countries. We, at Qatar Foundation, will continue to carry the banner of development in the fields of education, sciences and community development, to contribute to the achievement of the objectives of Qatar National Vision 2030 that focuses on the Qatari citizen. HE Dr Sheikh Abdulla bin Ali al-Thani, president of Hamad bin Khalifa University and vice president of Education at Qatar Foundation, stressed the wise vision of HH Sheikh Hamad. The State of Qatar and its wise leadership consistently conrm that Qatar is a pioneer in different elds and domains. Thus, the achievements of the nation over the past few years, including mainly Qatar Foundation, indicate the wise assessment and clear vision of the leadership, he said. The mandate of HH Sheikh Tamim will enhance the sustainability of progress and renaissance of Qatar and will provide more prosperity for its people. We, at Qatar Foundation and Hamad bin Khalifa University, will go ahead under the banner of the wise leadership and provide human capital with the scientic skills and knowledge, enabling them to contribute to the achievement of Qatar National Vision 2030.

It will be good if an authority like SEC has an overall control over institutions offering summer courses

To Advertise advr@gulf-times.com Display Telephone 44466621 Fax 44418811 Classified Telephone 44466609 Fax 44418811 Subscription circulation@gulf-times.com

ith a dream for a prosperous future that is founded upon the potential of Qatari youth, HH the Father Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani has played a monumental role in helping to foster the aspirations of future generations by heralding a new era of knowledge and development. This inspirational journey and quest for knowledge took root in 1995 when HH Sheikh Hamad shared his vision of the future with his wife, HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser. Together, they conceived an ambitious plan for the future development of their country and founded Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF), with the aim of providing Qatari nationals with comprehensive resources to enhance their knowledge, health and develop many areas of their community. With unwavering trust and condence in the capabilities of Qatari youth, HH Sheikh Hamad backed his conviction by placing emphasis on the importance of universal education and in the crucial role of Qatari youth as global ambassadors for development. HH the Father Emir said: The new world educational system recognises that education is a universal right and hence enables students, wherever they might be, to have access to the means of innovation, creativity, acquisition of knowledge and expertise and the practice of responsibility. And in keeping with his pledge for a promising future for all Qatari nationals, HH Sheikh Hamad has transferred power to his capable son HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani who shares his fathers futuristic outlook of supporting youth and investing in their skills as they advance the nation towards a sustainable future. In his address to the nation last week, HH the Father Emir urged Qatari youth to step forward by supporting this worthwhile mission and to stand alongside HH Sheikh Tamim by working hard to help full the aspirations of the future generations. He said: The time has come to turn a new leaf in the history of our nation where a new generation steps forward to shoulder the responsibility with their dynamic potential and creative thought. You, our children, are the munitions of this homeland; builders of its present and bearer of its future torch. We have always thought well of you; pinning hopes on you; and you, by virtue of your genuine eagerness and sincere achievements, have proven to be deserving to lead and take our condence. After being handed the reins of power, HH Sheikh Tamim will undoubtedly follow in his fathers footsteps by leading the nation to greater success and achievement in the realm of education, research, sports, healthcare and community development. HH Sheikh Tamim has been designated as the Heir Apparent since August 2003 and holds many posts within leading Qatari institutions, including his role as vice chairperson of the board of trustees for Qatar Foundation. He is also the president of the Qatar National Olympic Committee,

Saad al-Muhannadi

Faisal M al-Suwaidi

Rashid al-Naimi vice president of the Supreme Council for Economic Affairs and Investment, deputy commander-inchief of the armed forces, chairman of the board of directors of Qatar Investment Authority, chairman of the board of directors of Public Works Authority and the Urban Planning & Development Authority and chairman of the Supreme Council for the Environment and Natural Reserves. HH Sheikh Tamim has played a pivotal role in the development of Qatar National Vision 2030, which offers a clear road map for the future of Qatar by fostering human capital and economic growth. He is responsible for initiating many key projects, including the Qatar National Food Security Programme. In his rst speech as head of state, HH Sheikh Tamim said he would follow the path of his father HH Sheikh Hamad who is the architect of the modern Qatari state . His speech focused on regional and domestic issues, including the challenge of diversifying income and investing for future generations. Qatar Foundation will continue to work diligently by helping to achieve the goals of Qatar National Vision 2030 and facilitate Qatars mission towards a knowledge economy by unlocking human potential. Qatar Foundation president Dr Mohamed Fathy Saoud commended the importance of this historic step in the State of Qatars journey and said: Handing over the reins of power to HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, the Emir of Qatar, marks the beginning of a new era in which His Highness will be responsible for leading the nation in line with the Qatar National Vision. Under his rule, citizens of Qatar can look forward to being witness to the continuation of development of the country in all aspects. Over the last two decades, HH the Father Emir Sheikh Hamad laid the foundations in positioning Qatar not only in the GCC but in the Arab and Islamic nations and we are certain that HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim will only enhance this position.

Gulf Times Thursday, July 4, 2013

37

Ancient burial site unearthed in El Salvador: Community Page 10

COMMENT

Dateline Pakistan

Are talks with Taliban worth it?

They will not surrender or give up their dreams through talks alone
By Kamran Rehmat Islamababd o talk or not to talk with the Taliban - that is the question. Even the cliche that Pakistanis are yearning for peace through an end to the murderous Taliban violence is an understatement. Peace was the underlying theme of the 2013 general elections. All parties promised peace and the main parties that won at the Centre, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas - Nawaz Sharifs PML-N, Imran Khans PTI, Munawar Hassans JI, and the likely coalition partner Fazlur Rehmans JUI - have said this would be achieved through talks with the Taliban. So, is this possible? Or even desirable? Peace through talks is a seemingly benevolent and apparently easy way of bringing a modicum of normalcy to Pakistan as opposed to the concept of taking the war to the heart of Taliban in an attempt to irreversibly undo them. But if this were really doable, then why couldnt a powerful government headed directly by former military ruler Pervez Musharraf and a secular coalition government (President Asif Zardaris PPP, Asfandyar Walis ANP and Altaf Hussains MQM) able to do it in the decade preceding the May 2013 elections? They all tried hard enough. In the 10 years that Taliban have bloodcurdlingly terrorised the country, at times overtly aided by the money

and skills of Al Qaeda, killing more than 40,000 civilians and soldiers, Pakistan has tried both talks and force to neutralise them. The net result is that despite the at-times severe setbacks to its operational capability, the Taliban still have a strong national footprint, aided by many militant groups tolerated as policy by the state, in terms of their ability to mount major attacks to devastating effect anywhere they want. In the last ve years alone, theyve killed the likes of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto and ANPs Bashir Bilour as well as 17 legislators, twice nearly killed Musharraf and managed to get into the military headquarters and naval and air bases to strike fatal blows. So, what makes many think, in particular PML-N and PTI, which have already been greeted by the Taliban with post-election strikes, that they will cease their violence and make themselves redundant through talks? Do Nawaz Sharif and Imran Khan really think Taliban are their friends just because they made it clear to all and sundry before elections that they wanted PML-N and PTI in power and PPP, ANP and MQM consigned to oblivion? When did the Taliban undo their declared mission statement of seizing the state to enforce a caliphate by abolishing democracy, the system through which Sharif and Imran nd themselves in power with the mandate to bring peace? There are so many ifs and buts, and logistical nightmares, to talks - even if they happen - that it makes the head spin. Who will lead the talks - the PML-N government at the Centre or the PTI government in the province? Their two parties are sworn enemies. Can they talk to the Taliban together

Chasing shadows? In the 10 years that Taliban have bloodcurdlingly terrorised the country, Pakistan has tried both talks and force to neutralise them. through a consensus interlocutor? Then, who is the representative at the other end that can offer sovereign Taliban guarantees? And guarantees to whom - Sharif (the Centre) or Imran (the province)? And talk to groups that are formally outlawed by law without changing the constitution, or de-proscribing them? Talks always mean compromise. Give and take. What can Imran promise on behalf of the province? Or Sharif on behalf of the federation? Without the consent of the elephant in the room - the military, which by force and default represents the state (not the government) - which of the two leaders with the mandate of ending terrorism and bringing peace promise concessions to the Taliban? The bottom line is that the Pakistani state has lost thousands of kilometres of territory in various swathes over the last decade to non-state actors. This is unprecedented in modern history. This brings us to the premise of the would-be compromise that the state/ government (assuming Sharif, Imran and Kayani are, somehow by miracle, on the same page) is willing to offer the Taliban. What is it that the Taliban want? Clearly, to hold on to territory they are holding. To get a formal declaration by the state to enforce Sharia in the tribal areas - an environment conducive to the Talibans inuence on the local populations that can help them stay entrenched (what about the peoples right bartered away like this in reward to militant groups refusal to be scared of the state). To get promises that the army, or paramilitary and civilian armed forces will not attack the Taliban rst? All of this aids the Taliban in keeping what they have, plus buying time to consolidate and replenish their killing machine. A de-facto state for nonstate actors in a nuclear state! And what can the state/government want from the Taliban? A halt to attacks on soldiers and civilians? A laying down of arms? Acceptance of the Constitution of Pakistan?

Transformation of the Taliban into a political movement that can make them a bona de stakeholder in the state and government structures? All of this that the state/government wants presupposes that the Taliban are only interested in Pakistan and not Afghanistan. That they are interested in populist politics and crave public support to serve them. This would be extraordinarily naive. Both Baitullah Mehsud who clubbed various armed groups into the Tehrik e Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and his successor Hakimullah Mehsud, have often talked of representing Khorasan - the greater region comprising parts of not just Afghanistan and Iran but also Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. They have grander plans than merely being restricted to Pakistan. While the TTP is not a monolithic unied entity, the Pakistan variety of Taliban see their destinies intertwined with those of the Afghan Taliban and beyond with other groups that see the future of the region lying in the geography of the distant past. Islamabad cannot see the Afghan Taliban as good and Pakistan Taliban as bad if they want to overcome them. They are not groups but a mindset and a mission. The Taliban will not surrender or give up their dreams through talks alone. They can be tackled partly by talks, partly by force and partly administratively if FATA becomes a part of Pakistan under the same set of rights and laws for the rest of the country. Talks with Taliban will merely delay the eventual use of force against them. But by then, it may become even costlier for Pakistan. zThe writer may be reached at kaamyabi@gmail.com

Letters
Joblessness among expats
Dear Sir, It is being observed that the unemployment rate is increasing among expatriates in Qatar. Many of those who are coming to Qatar on visit, business and tourist visas, particularly from south Asian countries, intend to search for jobs and it is the reality that we have to accept. Also, some companies allow their workers to look for new jobs elsewhere in Qatar when their business isnt doing well. It is also being observed that some companies, which have visas but dont have projects in hand, trade in their visas to make money. It is understood, for instance, that they charge QR13,000 to 15,000 for visas to Indians, QR25,000 to QR30,000 to Bangladeshis. If you go through newspapers, you will nd quarter or half page advertisements daily for situation vacant in the country as against more than three or more pages for situation wanted . The Labour Department issues visas to companies having projects in hand for ve to 10 years as per their demand, both in private and public sectors. I urge authorities concerned to take some steps to sort out this problem. They should, for instance, develop an online database of candidates looking for jobs in Qatar. The applicants should be categorised as per their specialisation and experience. When any company makes an application for workers visas, the database should be checked to nd out whether it has qualied people for such posts. If they are found in the databank, the Labour Department has just to hand over the companies the list of qualied candidates names. This will prevent misuse of visa allotments. MR (Full name and address supplied) assistance, but in reality it is difficult because of intimidation by company officials, failure to locate the relevant labour offices, language barrier and lack of time. MN (Full name and e-mail address supplied)

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Should I keep my smartphone out of my bedroom?

By Dr Luisa Dillner London

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Tehran

ore than 80% of people with smartphones have them switched on all the time, including in bed. Mobiles or tablets often get used as alarm clocks, but once on the bedside table theyre a terrible temptation for one nal text or e-mail after the light goes out. Four out of 10 adults say they use their smartphone if it wakes them. But even if your device doesnt go off it may disrupt your sleep. A small study of tablets (used by 13 volunteers aged 20) from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York found that exposure to light from these sources suppresses the bodys melatonin levels by 23% when used for two hours before bedtime. The authors speculated that since melatonin levels reect how dark it is outside and tell the body how ready it should be for sleep, tablets may contribute to insomnia. The Emory sleep disorders laboratory in America advises not using a tablet before bed, even just to read, because the light shines directly into your eyes if you read with a lamp, the light points down. Last week research from the Mayo Clinic in Arizona, published in the journal Sleep, suggested, not at all radically, that turning down the light on these devices could reduce melatonin suppression and improve sleepiness. So can you stack your

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mobile devices back on your bedside table after all? Tablets and smartphones are backlit with a light-emitting diode (LED). The authors of the Mayo research say that devices that emit light at levels higher than 30 lux may reduce melatonin release. They found that if the mobile phone and tablets were held 35 centimetres (14 inches) away from the eye at maximum brightness, only the iPhone3 was over the 30 lux emission.

So if you turned the lights down and held the devices closer youd be OK at the lowest setting, up against the face, the iPhone4 measured 8 lux. However, it isnt just about a drop in melatonin levels. Doing anything stimulating before bed reading with a light in your face, answering e-mails increases insomnia. Good sleep hygiene means relaxing in a dark room without noise. There is some evidence that LEDs themselves are more likely to reduce melatonin

through emitting more blue light. Other studies have shown that using mobile phones and computers too much however much that is, and wherever it is done causes disturbed sleep and depression, especially in young people. Being accessible all the time may not be as great as we think it is. And we should probably be more selective about how much of the outside world gets into our bedrooms.- Guardian News and Media

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38

Gulf Times Thursday, July 4, 2013

QATAR

Qatari team visits Unescos biosphere reserves in Germany

Qatari delegation of senior officials from Qatar University, Qatar Foundation, Shell-Qatar, Qatar Energy and Environment Research Institute, Qatar Foundation Quranic Botanic Garden Project, Qatar Science and Technology Park and other institutions has visited Unesco biosphere reserves in Germany. During the 10-day visit, the scholars visited three cities Bonn, Hamburg and Berlin and four Unesco biosphere reserves in order to deepen bilateral ties in the eld of biosphere reserves, nature conservation and botanical gardens. In addition to visit to the German coastal, terrestrial and river nature reserves, the group had several political meetings, among others with the German Unesco Commission in Bonn, high-level representatives of the German Federal Foreign Office and representatives of the Qatari embassy in Berlin. The trip was offered on the initiative of the German embassy in Doha and the Unesco Doha Ofce. It was funded by Unesco and Germanys Visitors Programme. The German Ambassador to Qatar, Angelika StorzChakarji, said: We are pleased

The exclusive offers will soon be revealed and run throughout the month of Ramadan at Alfardan Automobiles BMW Group showrooms.

Members of the Qatari delegation at a site. that we could invite this group of Qatari stakeholders from various environment-related sectors to Germany. Germany has a world-renowned prole in environmental management and boasts 38 Unesco World Heritage Sites. I am happy the Qatari delegation could gain rst-hand impressions of many of them during the trip. Unescos ecological sciences adviser to the Arab region, Dr Benno Ber, said: At Unesco we are extremely happy about this important element aiming at international friendship and inspirations into environmental best practices. A majority of female candidates participated. This is a signicant support promoting womens capacity in science-based environmental management.

lfardan Automobiles, the official BMW Group importer in Qatar, is set to launch a number of offers to celebrate Ramadan. Customers will be able to enjoy a hassle-free ownership experience on all new BMW purchases. We wish all our loyal clients, the State of Qatar and the Muslim Nation Ramadan Kareem. In celebration of the holy month, we are pleased to offer some truly exceptional promotions, which we will announce shortly, said Mohamed Kandeel, general manager of Alfardan Automobiles. The exclusive offers will soon be revealed and run throughout the month of Ramadan at Alfardan Au-

Alfardan gears up for Ramadan with BMW offers A

tomobiles BMW Group showrooms. Alfardan Automobiles will also be the silver sponsor of the Ramadan tent at The St Regis Doha, with a display of select BMW models. As part of the special Ramadan working hours, Alfardan Automobiles will welcome customers to its showrooms from 10am to 12.30pm and 8.30pm to midnight (Saturday to Thursday) and 8.30pm to midnight (Friday). The main service centre in the Industrial Area will operate from 7am to 7pm (Saturday to Thursday) and Khalifa Town Service Centre from 8am to 2pm and 7pm to 1am (Saturday to Thursday).

he graduation of second and third classes of the Management Development Programme (MDP), a joint initiative of Qatar Finance and Business Academy (QFBA) and PricewaterhouseCoopers Qatar (PwC) was held recently. MDP is part of an ongoing strategy to address the needs of the Qatari and GCC business community within the energy sector. The programme comprises of ve weeks of training, delivered to participants by senior management consultants and internationally acclaimed professors from PwC over a period of four months. The course modules cover topics such as corporate nance, risk management, tax and corporate governance. Guest speakers in this years programme included Jan-Hein Jesse, a partner from PwC Netherlands who ew in to Doha for the programme to discuss his global experience of mergers and acquisitions within the industry. QFBA is proud to successfully deliver MDP for the third time jointly with PwC, we are committed to develop Qatars future leaders in diverse sectors to help build a sustainable

Graduation ceremony for 70 students join management classes medical colleges T summer enrichment programme
ome 70 students are participating in the annual summer enrichment programmes conducted by Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar (WCMC-Q). WCMC-Qs summer enrichment programmes are designed to provide prospective students with an opportunity to further explore their intellectual curiosity in a college setting. The programmes have been well received by students and schools who regard this as an excellent opportunity for interested and talented students to get the feel of college life and foster longterm career ambitions. The programmes are delivered by WCMC-Q graduates and faculty members. The programmes provide selected students with an opportunity to explore a possible medical career with hands-on experiences that is similar to the programmes of study undertaken by current students. The Qatar Medical Explorer Programme

(QMEP) aims to give a glimpse of what it is like to be a medical doctor through didactic thinking and problem-based learning.

The programmes provide selected students with an opportunity to explore a possible medical career with hands-on experiences that is similar to the programmes of study undertaken by current students
The two-week pre-college enrichment programme (PCEP) aims to introduce prospective college students to experience the rigours of university life. It is aimed at students entering 11th and 12th grades and those who are graduating from high school with a solid foundation in basic and biological science, high prociency in English and a desire to pursue medical studies. Speaking about the programmes, WCMC-Q director of student recruitment, Noha

A speaker at the Management Development Programme organised by QFBA and PwC here. knowledge-based economy for our nation, said Dr Abdulaziz al-Horr, chief executive officer, QFBA. PwC is committed to supporting Qatars 2030 National Vision by assisting to enhance the skills and capabilities of its people. The energy sector is ripe for the expansion of the next generation of management. This unique programme, led by Professor Jan Willem Velthuijsen from PwC Netherlands, is the rst step in delivering the learning associated with this advancement. The MDP provides the energy industry with a specic programme that addresses and increases the skills of professionals working within this sector, said Stuart Carter, a director with PwC Doha who co-ordinated the programme. The participants of this years programme include high-performing employees from Tasweeq and Shell. The next MDP will be held in February 2014.

Globex The Gate opens its doors in Doha

lobex Business Centres Inc, in collaboration with Salam International, yesterday announced the official opening of its rst property in Doha - Globex The Gate . Located at The Gate in West Bay, the facility offers quality services to tenants in a fast-growing business hub. Globex The Gate is a one-stop solution for companies seeking small-sized, serviced or shortterm office space, meeting rooms and video communication facilities. Spread over 2,800sqm, the centre will cater to local and international companies looking to work from the address as well as global businesses seeking to establish an initial presence in Qatar. Globex The Gate will help companies minimise the expense associated with leasing and equipping office space and give them access to various business facilities under one roof. Additionally, any rm that signs a minimum one-year lease will get trade licence application assistance.

Saleh, said this year there were 33 students in the QMEP and 36 in the PCEP. While most of the students come from Qatar, there are three students from Kuwait, the United States and Germany. From previous experience, about 95% of the summer enrichment programmes students end up applying to WCMC-Q, Saleh added. The students are given a chance to explore past, present and future trends in medicine and they discuss issues in the profession from ethics to public health awareness in the Gulf region. It is also an opportunity to experience college life through a variety of presentations, basic science lab sessions and clinical skills workshops. It is hoped that after an intensive two weeks of workshops and presentations the students will be in a position to form a clearer picture about how their interests, strengths and areas of improvement can translate into a career in medicine.

Globex The Gate offers various facilities for companies. Globex The Gate clients will also enjoy a fully-equipped onsite tness centre as part of their office rental package as an introductory offer. Lina Helena Kamal, general manager of Globex The Gate , said: By launching Globex The Gate , we will allow businesses to explore the opportunities presented by Qatars ourishing economy and take advantage of these opportunities without the burden of upfront investment in property and office rentals.

Participants at the Clinical Skills Centre.

Gulf Times Thursday, July 4, 2013

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QATAR

HMC team promotes hand hygiene

T
he infection control team at HMC has successfully completed a week-long campaign to promote hand hygiene compliance in the corporation. The campaign, which was sponsored by HMC Medical, Academic and Research Affairs chief Prof Michael Richmond, represented part of the organisations continuous efforts to instill a culture of safety in every facet of ongoing patient care. Prof Richmond advised that, in order to provide higher quality care to patients and consistently improve safety standards, they need the commitment of senior management and a mind shift among staff to take responsibility. Good hand hygiene should be a matter of routine, but is still often forgotten by many staff immediately before touching a patient, he said while explaining that infection control is everyones responsibility. Patients and their family members can help by asking health workers who are about to touch them to clean their hands rst and thanking them when they do. Prof Richmond added that good hand hygiene practices for healthcare professionals, as well as patients and their families, are an important means to control infection. The World Healthcare Organisation (WHO) has reported that, every year, hundreds of millions of patients around the world are affected by healthcare-associated infections, which usually occur when caregivers hands transfer germs while touching patients. These infections can lead to signicant physical and psychological suffering and can even result in the death of patients. Studies have shown that if caregivers properly cleaned their hands at key moments while providing patient care, more than half of the infections could be prevented. According to the WHO, the most common infections are urinary tract and surgical site infections, pneumonia and infections of the bloodstream. Practising good hand hygiene, by using alcohol-based hand rubs, or washing hands with soap and water if visibly dirty, signicantly reduces the risk of these infections. We adopted the WHO global campaign of Save Lives: Clean Your Hands . We were delighted to get such a positive response from staff keen to engage in various educational and promotional activities across HMC during hand hygiene promotion week, said Dr Jameela al-Ajmi, assistant executive director, infection prevention and control programme. The official explained that infection control is vitally important in ensuring safer and more effective care for patients, but it is also important for the safety of staff, who are often exposed to infectious elements as part of their vital work. The WHO dened ve key moments when working with patients where hand hygiene should be performed: Before touching a patient; before cleaning and aseptic procedures (such as inserting devices such as catheters); after contact with bodily uids; after touching a patient, and; after touching patient surroundings. Our senior management is committed to establishing improved safety protocols within the organisation which will contribute to better patient care and treatment outcomes, HMC risk management assistant executive director Dr Moza al-Ishaq said, adding: They have endorsed a number of activities designed to instil a safety culture across HMC where staff are not just encouraged to learn about safety measures and standards, but take action to ensure the safety of patients and their carer. As part of the routine efforts to promote infection control within HMC, trained teams are engaged in monitoring hand hygiene practices in all hospitals and provide regular feedback to health workers.

Fun galore as Hyatt Plaza summer festival enters nal days

Stilt walkers perform at the Hyatt Plazas summer festival.

yatt Plaza shopping mall is concluding its hugely successful summer festival activities tomorrow. The 16-day long entertainment extravaganza offered a memorable shopping experience for the families in Doha. Popular characters Dora the explorer, Shaun the Sheep and Angry Birds entertained the kids and their families with shows, games and activities as part of the festival that started on June 20. The festival was received by the customers with enthusiasm, where activities were not conned to the food court. The entire mall was wrapped up in a festive atmosphere. Noor Husam, mother of 12-year-old Abdullah and 7 year old Reem, said: This is the third time I am visiting Hyatt Plaza this week and my children love it every time. They are so happy to meet their favourite Dora and Angry Birds. She expressed her appreciation for the initiative offered by Hyatt Plaza to make all members of the family happy.

Besides the shows and parades by popular cartoon characters, the festival also provided opportunities for hundreds of kids to win gifts such as toys and gift vouchers through various interactive games. The characters will showcase their special nal show tomorrow. We are extremely delighted by the amazing response received from our customers, said Fuad Shaqadan, manager, leasing and marketing, Hyatt Plaza. We hope that people who chose to spend this summer in Doha were not disappointed as they had Hyatt Plaza summer festival to cherish. We are planning to organise more exciting events for our customers during the holy month of Ramadan and Eid, he added. The members of the public are welcome to enjoy the closing ceremony and grab the chance to meet and greet the famous characters for the last time as the festival concludes by 8pm tomorrow, the official added.

Children watch an entertainment programme at the mall.

EU DEADLINE | Page 42

INVESTOR GAIN | Page 44

Greece to miss public sector reform target

Thursday, July 4, 2013 Shabaan 25, 1434 AH

Asia shipping best spot to ride recovery

NEW OPPORTUNITIES: Page 43

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BUSINESS
Eurozone decline eases again in June: PMIs; Portuguese politics suggest debt crisis still a risk; PMIs consistent with eurozone GDP at -0.2% in Q2
Reuters London

The involvement of local firms in the Doha metro and rail projects to support the national economy and benefit the private sector

US crude tops $101 on stocks draw, Egypt

Eurozone slump eases, but debt crisis returns to haunt

he eurozone economy looks on track to crawl out of recession in the second half of the year, surveys showed yesterday, just as new strains in the regions debt crisis put it all at risk. Markits nal Composite Eurozone Purchasing Managers Index (PMI), a monthly survey of thousands of companies, rose to its highest since March 2012 last month, climbing to 48.7 from Mays 47.7. This is still below the 50 threshold for growth, but a marked improvement from lows hit last autumn. Overall, the PMIs

were consistent with the eurozone economy shrinking around 0.2% through April to June. While this suggested the eurozones record-long recession may end soon, a wave of political instability in Portugal and a new bout of worry about Greece were reminders of how easily the debt crisis, dormant for the last 10 months, can reawakened. The resignation of two senior ministers in Portugal prompted a huge sell-off in the countrys government bonds, sending 10year borrowing costs soaring above 8.1% for the rst time since November. It also pushed yields in Spain and Italy sharply higher. Greece, meanwhile, has been given just a few by international lenders to deliver on conditions attached to its bailout in order to receive its next tranche of aid. The PMIs showed German companies managed to eke out negligible growth in June, but the surveys showed the regions

peripheral economies, like Spain and Italy, still suffered a perilous rate of decline which worsened in the case of Italy. The peripheral economies have a very hard battle on their hands to return to healthy economic growth, said Jonathan Loynes, chief European economist at Capital Economics. Against that background, I dont think its at all surprising to see political instability in those countries. None of this will be lost on European Central Bank policymakers, who meet today to set monetary policy. Although economists do not expect them to announce any major changes, any sign of a new are up in the debt crisis could force the bank into action in the coming months. This may well mean that the ECB at some point down the line may have to implement its OMT programme in order to prevent borrowing costs from continuing to rise, Loynes said.

He was referring to the Outright Monetary Transactions plan to buy the bonds of struggling countries in some circumstances. The announcement of such a plan settled markets without it having to be triggered. Even if the eurozone manages to avoid a major bout of debt jitters and to escape recession in the current quarter, a return to outright growth looks a way off yet. The concern is that, with Germany barely growing, it remains difficult to identify any real growth drivers, said Chris Williamson, chief economist at Markit, which compiles the PMIs. He added that any economic expansion was likely to remain subdued until business condence improves further and unemployment falls from its record euro-era high of 12.2%. Although the surveys jobs index ticked up to 47.4 last month from Mays 47.2, that still suggests the jobless rate is likely to head higher.

Oil prices powered higher for a third day yesterday, with the New York contract hitting a 14-month high, as traders fretted about unrest in Egypt and reacted to a rapidly tightening supplies in the US domestic market. While US crude pushed above $101 a barrel, for a weekly rally of nearly 5%, many traders were still fixated on ructions in key spreads trade, with the premium of European Brent crude over US WTI touching its highest since 2010 before beginning to unwind amid an easing short squeeze. US weekly inventory data showing that stockpiles fell by more than 10mn barrels, the biggest drop for this time of year in nearly 13 years, added to earlier gains that had been fuelled by worries the unrest in Egypt could destabilise the Middle East, which pumps a third of the worlds oil. The sharp drawdown in crude stocks is something that nobody anticipated, said Addison Armstrong, director of market research with Tradition Energy in Stamford, Connecticut. Although analysts have been looking for inventories to ebb, the drop was nearly five times larger than forecasts. In Egypt, President Mohamed Mursi rejected an army ultimatum to step down. While the Suez Canal Authority said there was no sign of the political turmoil disrupting up to 2.4mn bpd of oil transit, traders were edgy. This is on fears that somehow the situation there could collapse and youd have a power vacuum, Armstrong said. Front-month US crude oil futures were up $1.76 at $101.36 a barrel by 1.32pm EDT (1732 GMT), having touched a session high of $102.18 in earlier trade. The contract blew past the 10- and 15-day moving averages on a continuation chart in the last two sessions.

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Gulf Times Thursday, July 4, 2013

BUSINESS
SERVICE BOOST BAILED-OUT NATION US CHARGES SPYING TENSIONS JUNK TERRITORY

Robust UK data dims case for more stimulus

Britains service sector put in a stellar performance in June, suggesting the economy is recovering faster than expected and dimming talk that new Bank of England Governor Mark Carney may want to push quickly for more monetary stimulus. Adding to the brighter economic news that has dominated Carneys first week in office were separate surveys showing subdued inflation and rising demand for credit. As the BoE began its first policy meeting under Carney, the Purchasing Managers Index for services leapt two points to 56.9, far higher than any economist had forecast.

Irish unemployment rate easing to 13.6%

Irelands unemployment rate dropped slightly last month but the bailed-out eurozone nation is still struggling to cut the large number of people out of work, official data showed yesterday. The standardised unemployment rate stood at 13.6% in June, down slightly from 13.7% in May. The figure represents the lowest rate in three years, and is well down from the high point of 15.1% in February 2012. In unadjusted terms there were 435,357 people signing on the Live Register in June 2013. This represents an annual decrease of 16,617 (-3.7%), the Central Statistics Office (CSO) said in a statement.

HSBC wins OK for record $1.92bn settlement

A US federal judge has approved HSBC Holdings record $1.92bn settlement with federal and state investigators of charges that it flouted rules designed to stop money laundering and thwart transactions with countries under US sanctions. While noting heavy public criticism of the settlement, which enabled HSBC to escape criminal prosecution, US District Judge John Gleeson in Brooklyn, New York, called the decision to approve the accord easy, for it accomplishes a great deal. The settlement, announced December 11, 2012, included a $1.256bn forfeiture and $665mn in civil fines.

France urges delay to EU-US trade talks

France said yesterday that free-trade talks between the European Union and the US should be delayed by two weeks given tensions over media reports that Washington is spying on the 28-nation bloc. The European Commission and Germany both said that the first round of negotiations should start as scheduled on Monday in Washington. France cannot block the talks unilaterally after EU states gave the Commission a negotiating mandate last month. Paris only agreed to join the negotiations after assurances that entertainment and other cultural sectors be excluded from negotiations.

Moodys downgrades rescued Spanish banks

Moodys has downgraded three nationalised Spanish banking groups, sending their debt deeper into junk bond territory on fears that private investors may get burned in case of trouble. Moodys Investors Service axed its ratings of Bankia, Catalunya Banc and NovaCaixaGalicia, citing their very weak asset quality, poor profits and the major challenges they face in lowering debt, closing branches and cutting staff numbers. The New York-based assessor of creditworthiness said it had taken account of the large degree of support to the banks from the Spanish government.

US steel pipe firms seek anti-dumping action on 9 nations

A group of US companies that produce specialty steel pipe used to drill for oil and gas have launched a major trade case, asking the US International Trade Commission to stem what they say is a flood of unfairly traded products from nine countries. If they succeed, the price of some high-margin steel products sold to the energy industry could rise, benefiting domestic producers like US Steel Corp The petition, filed on Tuesday on behalf of US Steel and other companies, asked the commission to investigate imports of some oil country tubular goods from India, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine and Vietnam. Nomura Securities analyst Curt Woodworth said the filing was a modest positive for US producers but noted that domestic capacity is set to rise in 2014 and 2015 in any case. These trade cases can be time consuming, he said. With the anti-dumping cases, you need to prove financial injury. That will be difficult to prove, given that most of the companies are still very profitable. But in the short term, he said, some countries may dial back aggressive pricing. US steel manufacturing has been hit by weaker demand.

Greece set to miss targets on reforming its public sector

EU/IMF may freeze bailout funds for 3 months: official; Greece hopeful of positive result at Eurogroup
Reuters Athens

reece will not meet targets on reforming its public sector by an endof-the-week deadline set by its international lenders, Finance Ministry officials said on yesterday, ahead of a meeting to decide on unlocking a further 8.1bn in aid. But the officials said Athens expected to reach agreement with its foreign lenders on all other issues before a Eurogroup meeting on Monday. The EU and IMF are unhappy with the progress Greece has made in reforming its bloated public sector. If they are not persuaded that Greece is on track to meet its reform goals, the lenders may freeze emer-

gency aid for three months, a senior eurozone official said. No conclusion on the review, no disbursement, said the official, who declined to be named, adding this remained highly unlikely. Is it a disaster no. Is it uncomfortable? - Yep. Athens needs to conclude talks with its lenders by the middle of the month to ensure it receives the latest aid tranche, which it needs to redeem about 2.2bn of bonds in August. Public sector layoffs are an incendiary issue in Greece, which is struggling through a sixth year of recession, record high unemployment and sinking living standards. Athens has missed a June deadline to put 12,500 state workers into a mobility scheme , under which they are transferred or laid off within a year, and officials said it would not be able to strike a deal on the issue by Monday. There is no chance that we will satisfy the current demands

Tourists rest beneath a Greek flag atop the hill of the Acropolis in Athens yesterday. The EU and IMF are unhappy with the progress Greece has made in reforming its bloated public sector. as they are set out, a senior Finance Ministry official said. But Greek officials also sought to play down fears of what would happen if Greece did not receive aid payments in time, saying in a worst-case scenario it could compensate by issuing additional treasury bills. It wont be the end of the world, said a second Finance Ministry official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. In the worst case scenario we will have to increase the issuance of T-

bills, we will delay repaying arrears and it could lead to further delays to payments. Greek bonds have sold off in the past few weeks. Greek 10year bond yields rose faster than longer-dated ones yesterday, with the Greek yield curve at its most inverted since April. To pressure Athens to deliver on reforms without creating a full-blown crisis, its lenders might refuse to pay the full sum in one go and break it up into monthly payments instead. Delays in pushing ahead with the hugely unpopular reforms have become a thorny issue in talks with lenders, who returned on Monday after a twoweek break during which Prime Minister Antonis Samaras lost an ally in his ruling coalition and reshuffled his cabinet. Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the newly-appointed administrative reform minister tasked with making the civil service smaller and more efficient, said he needed several months to get

the scheme right. Clearly this cannot happen in a few days or a few weeks, Mitsotakis told Skai TV late on Tuesday. He proposed compensating for the shortfall by speeding up rings of civil servants who have been found to have broken the law or those who were hired under false credentials. Finance Minister Yannis Stournaras was due to hold a third round of talks in as many days with inspectors from the troika of EU, IMF and ECB lenders at 1600 GMT. Other sticking points in Athenss negotiations with its lenders include an unpopular property tax and a possible reduction in a sales tax for restaurants. The government also plans to ask its creditors to lower this years privatisation target of 2.6bn after failing to nd a buyer for natural gas company DEPA. Still, officials were hopeful of a positive outcome at Mondays Eurogroup meeting.

US jobs data upbeat but trade, services dim growth outlook

Reuters Washington

S private employers stepped up hiring in June and new applications for unemployment benets fell for a second straight week last week, pointing to a steadily improving labour market picture. Still, the pace of economic growth remains lacklustre, with other data yesterday showing a sharp slowing in activity in the service industries in June and a wider trade decit in May. Private payrolls increased 188,000 last month, the ADP National Employment Report showed, up from 134,000 jobs added in May. Economists had expected the report, jointly compiled by payrolls processor ADP and Moodys Analytics, to show a gain of 160,000 private jobs. In a separate report, the Labor Department said initial claims for state unemployment benets slipped 5,000 to a seasonally adjusted 343,000. The (jobs) market is holding rm, said Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moodys Analytics in West Chester, Pennsylvania. The data were released ahead of

the governments more comprehensive employment report tomorrow. Not much change in the recent pattern of moderate job gains is expected in June. Nonfarm payrolls are expected to have increased 165,000 in June, according to a Reuters survey of economists, a touch below Mays tally of 175,000 jobs. But that would be higher than the monthly average of 155,800 over the past three months. The unemployment rate is expected to fall a tenth of a percentage point to 7.5%. The employment report could shed fresh clues on the timing of the Federal Reserves plan to start scaling back its monetary stimulus. Fed chairman Ben Bernanke said last month the US central bank expected to trim its bond purchases later this year and halt the programme by mid-2014, as long as the economy progresses as it expects. Separately, the Institute for Supply Managements services index fell to 52.2 in June, the lowest level since February 2010, from 53.7 in May. A reading above 50 indicates expansion in the service industries, which account for more than two-thirds of the economy. Taken together with a Commerce

Department report showing the decit on the trade balance widened 12.1% to $45.0bn in May, that suggested second-quarter gross domestic product would probably fall well below the 1.8% annual pace recorded in the rst three months of the year. RBS cut its second-quarter GDP estimate to 0.8% from 1.4% on the trade data, while Barclays slashed its estimate by six tenths of a percentage point to 1%. The jump in the trade gap reected an increase in imports, an indication of rming underlying domestic demand. Even though the pace of growth in the services sector slowed in June, employers still hired more workers. In the trade report, imports rose 1.9% to $232.1bn, the highest since the record level of $234.3bn set in March 2012. When adjusted for ination, imports were a record $167.2bn. Exports fell 0.3% to $187.1bn, with increases in categories such as autos and auto parts and capital goods more than offset by a decline in consumer goods, food, feeds and beverages and industrial materials. That reects sluggish growth in the rest of world, particularly in major trading partners like China.

People looking for work stand in line to apply for jobs during a job fair at the Miami Dolphins Sun Life stadium in Miami, Florida (file). Private payrolls increased 188,000 last month, the ADP National Employment Report showed, up from 134,000 jobs added in May.

Gulf Times Thursday, July 4, 2013

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BUSINESS
GLOBAL SLUMP UAE ACQUISITION $1BN DEAL ORASCOM PARENT PARIS FIRM

Kuwait Finance House to start dollar sukuk fund

Kuwait Finance House will start a $100mn sukuk fund as a slump in global bond markets offers a chance to invest at higher yields, the chief executive of its Malaysian asset-management unit said. The fund will buy investment-grade sovereign and corporate dollar notes, KFH Asset Management chief executive officer Mushthaq Ahmad Ibrahim said in an interview in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. It will probably start purchasing debt this month, he said. The average yield on Shariah-compliant notes touched 4.17% on June 25, the highest since May 2011, the HSBC/ Nasdaq Dubai US Dollar Sukuk Index shows.

Gulf Capital buys fine food importer Chef Middle East

Gulf Capital, a private equity firm based in Abu Dhabi, has acquired Chef Middle East, a gourmet foods importer and distributor, it said. Chef Middle East was established in Dubai in 1995 and has customers in the UAE, Qatar and Oman, Gulf Capital said in an e-mailed statement. It imports foods from Europe, Australia and Japan, including cheese, chocolate, oils and spices, it said. Gulf Capital made the purchase of shares and assets of Chef Middle East, including warehousing and distribution facilities, through a combination of equity and debt from Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, it said.

Turk Telekom, others eye pay-TV group Digiturk

Turk Telekom, Dogan Holding and Dogus Group are among potential buyers for Turkish digital pay-TV operator Digiturk, in a deal seen worth up to $1bn, banking sources close to the matter told Reuters. NewsCorp and Liberty Global may also be interested in Digiturk, majority owned by Cukurova, they said. State agency the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF) in May seized control of Digiturk and dozens of other companies belonging to the troubled Cukurova Group. US private equity group Providence Equity Partners own 47% of Digiturk.

OCI construction unit bags $420mn Saudi work

OCI, the Netherlands-based parent of Orascom Construction Industries, said its construction unit was awarded infrastructure work in Saudi Arabia worth $420mn, a further boost to its growing backlog of projects in the rapidly developing kingdom. OCI said it expects to formally sign a series of contracts for work throughout Saudi Arabia in the coming weeks. The projects will be executed at several locations in Saudi Arabia, where the Construction Group is currently executing approximately $790mn worth of work, excluding these new contracts, OCI said in a statement.

Veolia to build Saudi desalination plant

Veolia Environnement, Europes biggest water company, won a contract to build a desalination plant in Saudi Arabia that will supply the Sadara petrochemicals factory. The design and construction will generate $310mn in revenue, and operations will deliver $92mn over 10 years, the Paris-based company said in a statement. The order, awarded by Saudi utility Marafiq, may be extended by 20 years. The new plant, which will use ultrafiltration and reverse-osmosis technologies, will have a capacity of 178,000 cubic metres a day and start production in June 2015.

Qatar Rail project to benet local private sector: Sheikh Khalifa

atar Chamber chairman Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim bin Mohamed alThani has said the involvement of local companies in the Doha Metro and Rail projects will support the national economy and benet the countrys private sector. The decision of Qatar Rail to integrate Qatari companies in the Doha Metro and Rail projects won by foreign companies represents a real support to the countrys economy, strengthens the private sector role and enables it to benet as much as possible, he said. Sheikh Khalifa considered Qatar Rails initiative very useful for the local companies and provides new vistas of opportunity in a new industrial venture. This integration didnt happen before with any local company in any railway project. Thus, we look forward to seeing the Qatari companies beneting from the proceeds of the projects carried out in Qatar, which we consider a national right. We wish that all companies will follow Qatar Rails strategy in this regard . Abdul Aziz bin Nasser al-

Morocco delays subsidy cuts until after Ramadan

Morocco will delay a planned deregulation of prices for some subsidised products until after Ramadan following controversy over its announcement of the move before the Muslim fasting month when millions of Moroccans spend heavily. The Islamist-led government, under pressure from the International Monetary Fund, is seeking to cut back on subsidies that burned up 53.36bn dirhams of public money in 2012 or 6.4% of Moroccos GDP. But the reforms also mean pain for households used to subsidised oil, gas, sugar and other staple goods. We will launch the automatic price adjustment after Ramadan, Finance Minister Nizar Baraka told Reuters. We will announce the exact day after the sacred month, taking into consideration the commodity prices in the international markets. General Affairs and Governance Minister Mohamed Najib Boulif said last week that the government would start automatic price adjustment within weeks for fuel except cooking gas and sugar. The government expects the shift to cut spending on subsidies by 20%, to 42bn dirhams ($5bn) or less. That is within the limit fixed by the 2013 budget, which is based on an oil price of $105. Boulif noted that if oil prices were lower than $105 then Moroccans would wind up paying less than if the subsidy scheme had been left in place. The adjustment will be in both directions. When (oil) prices are less than $105, that will let Moroccans consider that it is not necessarily a bad thing, he argued last week. The government, however, may also set a different pricing regime of diesel fuel to protect the transportation sector and avoid a snowball effect on prices. We are considering how to set a different pricing regime for diesel used in the transport of people and goods, but it is in discussions and not yet decided, Transport Minister Abdelaziz Rebbah told Reuters earlier this week. That may sharply reduce the savings for the government as the transport sector burns up around 65% of the national consumption of oil, according to ministry figures. A junior party is threathening to quit the governing coalition unless Prime Minister Abdelilah Benkirane moderated plans for the sweeping cuts. Benkirane, backed by the IMF to the tune of $6.2bn under a precautionary credit line agreed last year, insists the reforms will go ahead.

Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim al-Thani Khalifa, Qatar Development Bank executive director (Strategic Planning and Business Development), said: There is no doubt that the contribution of local companies in the consortia which were awarded contracts for the Doha Metro Project, will help in transferring the knowledge to these reputed companies. This will help reduce risks

Abdul Aziz bin Nasser al-Khalifa that may surround the project itself and will denitely support the small and medium enterprises associated with Qatar Rail, which will have a positive impact on the economy . Qatar Rail aims at gaining experience and technology and pushes the contribution of private sector in the development process. There are clear and strict instructions from the

Ali Mustafawi that will be moved from abroad so that our local market will gain experience from them, he said. Qatar Building Company (QBC) managing director Ali Mustafawi said: The efforts of Qatar Rail to implement such a huge project will have a positive and immediate impact on all business sectors in Qatar. This is especially due to the fact that

steering committee, to provide the private sector with all the information needed. Upon completion of Qatar Railway projects, thousands of job opportunities will be available. There will be a lot of opportunities for the local market. For specialised work, Qatar Rail is conducting many programmes to train employees, while there will be some work

the scope of work will attract a large number of experienced employees and high-quality foreign companies. He said this will help small, medium and large businesses to recover , especially in real estate, banking, retail, education and health sectors. The Qatari construction company is looking to invest its expertise and capacity to build the infrastructure of Qatar through synergy with foreign companies for the construction of underground stations, which is considered one of Qatars largest projects , Mustafawi added. Qatar Rail project will offer investment opportunities and will develop rail industry in Qatar. It will also help in developing the countrys human resources, since it offers many job opportunities as well. Providing an opportunity to the private sector is one of Qatar Rails top priorities; the company has granted all tenders related to its logistics to Qatari companies. Notable among them are Ali Bin Ali, Al-Darwish Trading, Grey Worldwide, Al-Mannai Trading, Akonix Qatar.

Indias BSE launches futures trading on Dubai bourse

Reuters Dubai

he Dubai Gold and Commodities Exchange (DGCX) started trading an Indian stock index futures contract yesterday, aiming to tap demand from the large expatriate Indian population residing in the Gulf region. Under an agreement with Indian bourse BSE, derivatives exchange DGCX started trading futures for the S&P BSE SENSEX, an index of the top 30 companies listed on the Indian bourse, the two companies said. The alliance forged by BSE, Asias oldest stock exchange, is mirroring a move by its larger rival National Stock Exchange (NSE). The NSEs stock index futures are traded through both the Chicago

Contracts valued at $48.5bn traded on DGCX in May with volume jumping 70% from a year ago
Mercantile Exchange and Singapore Exchange. BSE chief executive Ashishkumar Chauhan, in Dubai for the launch yesterday, said that the new index contract will appeal to the regions huge Indian population. Though BSE maintains that it is the worlds No 1 exchange by virtue of its 5,000 listed companies, its trade volumes have been eclipsed by those of NSE, founded in 1993. The total value of share trading on the NSE hit a little more than

$526bn last year, against about $110bn on the BSE, World Federation of Exchanges data shows. The competition has been boosted further by the launch of equities trading by the newly established MCX-SX bourse this year, but Chauhan insists that BSE is not focused only on winning the volumes game. Our aim is to enable capital formation and look at ways to boost transparency and liquidity in the markets, said Chauhan, who has previously worked at NSE during its formative years. Volumes will boost your own valuation, but that alone does not create efficient markets. We are not in that game. Founded in 1875, BSE last year said it plans a stock market listing of its own, which could value the exchange at about $1bn. The ini-

tial public offering was originally slated for the rst half of this year and BSE had picked 14 banks to arrange the sale. Chauhan declined to comment on the plans. My investment bankers have asked me to keep quiet on that topic, he said. Frankfurt-based Deutsche Boerse and SGX each own 5% of BSE, whose Sensex index remains Indias benchmark stock index even though rival NSEs Nifty index has higher volumes. Meanwhile, DGCX also plans to offer futures contracts based on polypropylene and the renminbi as it seeks to tap into growing trade with China, chief executive officer Gary Anderson said at a news conference in Dubai yesterday. The deliverable plastics contracts, to be denominated in dollars, are being developed in

partnership with Chinas Dalian Commodity Exchange and are expected to begin trading in the third quarter, Anderson said. The six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council produces more than 20% of the worlds plastics and a majority of that ows into China, he said. The exchange aims to focus on contracts needed within the region, Anderson said. The plastics contract will trade alongside a renminbi futures contract to enable users to hedge their exposure to the currency, he said. State-controlled DGCX, established in 2005, already offers futures contracts in metals, currencies and energy. Contracts valued at $48.5bn traded on DGCX in May with volume jumping 70% from a year ago, the exchange said June 9.

Egypt retreats ahead of military deadline; most Gulf markets slip

Reuters, QNA Dubai

ost regional markets declined yesterday in thin summer trading, while political tensions spurred foreign investors to sell Egypts bourse ahead of a military deadline for deant President Mohamed Mursi to share power with opponents. Cairos benchmark dipped 0.3%, slipping off a three-week high and extending 2013 losses to 9%. Bourse data showed that foreign investors were sellers but Egyptians remained net buyers on hopes a military intervention would put an end to the Islamist presidents rule. Mursi however, has pledged to die for his cause, saying that he was democratically elected and would stay in office to uphold the constitutional order. Investors panicked following the presidents speech yesterday in which he refused to resign, said Pharos Holding in a research note. However, hopes that the deadlock might be resolved sedated investors panic.

The index fell as much as 1.7% in early trade. The small decline compared to Tuesdays rally, when the exchange advanced 1.4%, shows a general optimism for a resolution to the countrys political problems, through the help of the army. However, economic concerns linger for longer-term investors. A military coup could further delay economic reforms required to secure a $4.8bn loan from the International Monetary Fund and leave the countrys nances in trouble. In the Gulf, markets were mixed in lacklustre trade. Saudi Arabias benchmark slipped 0.5%, off a three-week high, in slight prottaking. The banking shares index retreated 0.4% and the petrochemical sector lost 0.3%. Trading volumes fell to 146.3mn shares, around a third of the busiest day on the bourse this year June 15. Even the markets are tired of the political turmoil. The scarce liquidity of summer and approaching Ramadan might be a blessing, preventing sharp de-

clines, said Firass Yaish, business development manager at One Financial Market. The next major catalyst for the market is expected to be secondquarter results, which are due to start next week. For the banking sector, analysts expect few surprises, with Riyad Capital forecasting a 5% growth in net prot for the sector. However, an improvement in net interest margins could provide further upside in stock valuations, which have been closing the gap upwards to price targets, it added. Saudi bank shares have slightly outperformed the main benchmark in 2013; the banking index is up 15.2% year-to-date, versus an 11.5% advance for the main measure. However, shares in the other heavyweight sector, petrochemicals, have lagged by comparison the index is up just 3.9% year-to-date on global demand fears. These have somewhat increased since the US Federal Reserve announced plans to end its monetary stimulus, but low feedstock prices are seen offsetting some of the downward pressure

on demand for petrochemical products. The Qatar Exchange closed down yesterday 1.06 points or 0.01% to 9,367.54 points from the previous closing of 9,368.60 points. The volume of shares traded fell to 3,260,049 from 5,670,524 on Tuesday, and the value of shares increased to QR673,271,229.87 from QR227,999,599.68 on Tuesday. Among the top losers were Commercial Bank of Qatar, whose share dropped 0.28% to QR70.50, Electricity and Water lost 0.79% to QR163.00, Vodafone Qatar fell 0.55% to QR9.03 and Barwa Real Estate down 0.19% to QR26.55. Banking and Financial sector added 0.07 points while the Insurance sector was up 0.07 points. The Qatar industrial sector gained 0.05 points and the Services sector rose 0.67 points. In the United Arab Emirates, Dubais measure closed little changed, while Abu Dhabis index declined 0.5% to trim year-todate gains to 35.5%. Kuwaits measure rose 0.7%, while Omans bourse slipped 0.4%. The index in Bahrain gained 0.2% to 1,189 points.

Traders work at Egypts Stock Exchange in Cairo yesterday. The bourse data showed that foreign investors were sellers but Egyptians remained net buyers on hopes a military intervention would put an end to the Islamist presidents rule. Cairos benchmark dipped 0.3%, slipping off a three-week high and extending 2013 losses to 9% in yesterdays trading.

44

Gulf Times Thursday, July 4, 2013

BUSINESS

Asian shipping industrys pain may be investors gain

Sturdy commodity demand growth and slower new ship deliveries expected to help balance fleet and cargo demand; for private equity looking to buy into the upturn, Asian shipping firms undergoing restructuring offer opportunities
Reuters Singapore

Toyota set to recall 185,000 cars globally, including Yaris

Reuters Tokyo

S private equity and investment funds are betting Asias shipping industry, hit by a restructuring wave that has already swept Europe and the US, is the best spot to ride a recovery from the industrys worst downturn in three decades. Sturdy commodity demand growth and slower new ship deliveries will help balance eet and cargo demand for the rst time since 2004, analysts say, boosting freight rates by next year and into 2015. For private equity looking to buy into the upturn, Asian shipping rms undergoing restructuring like South Koreas STX Pan Ocean Co and Indonesias Berlian Laju Tanker offer opportunities. The ships investors are looking for are also being built in the regions yards. More than $3.5bn has been invested in ships and shipping containers so far this year, according to gures compiled by Marine Money, compared with $2.7bn in 2012 and $4.2bn in 2011. My guess is that unless the public markets open quickly there will be at least twice as much private equity commitment to the industry by the end of 2014,billionaire private equity investor Wilbur Ross said at a ship nance conference in New York in June. Joseph Swanson, managing director of US-based investment bank and restructuring rm Houlihan Lokey, said his company is advising on everything from ship acquisitions to complex restructurings of eet operators. Some of the projects are in Asia but he declined to give further details, citing client condentiality. The shipping industry splurged on new ships in 200708 that were delivered just as demand slumped, particularly on once-lucrative oil export

he worlds best-selling carmaker, Toyota Motor Corp, said it was recalling around 185,000 vehicles globally, including the Yaris compact, owing to a glitch in the electric power steering system that could make the steering heavier. Models of the Yaris, known in Japan as the Vitz, that were made between November 2010 and March 2012, have been recalled. Toyota said it was also recalling the Verso-S, known in Japan as the Ractis, made from August 2010 to August 2011. Short circuits could be caused in the vehicles by water droplets forming on certain wires in the power steering control module. As a result, the power steering assist could be suspended, making the steering heavier, Toyota said in a statement. Toyota is recalling around 130,000 vehicles in Japan, more than 7,400 in Italy, some 7,050 vehicles in Germany and about 7,000 in France, as well as in other countries, including Britain and the US, spokeswoman Shiori Hashimoto said. No accidents or injuries have been reported from the glitch, she said. Toyota will replace the power steering control module, which will take one to two hours, the spokeswoman said. She declined to comment on how much the recall will cost.

An employee rides a bicycle past a nearly-completed ship at China State Shipbuilding Corporations (CSSC) Longxue Shipbuilding, in the southern city of Guangzhou (file). US private equity and investment funds are betting Asias shipping industry, hit by a restructuring wave, is the best spot to ride a recovery from the industrys worst downturn in three decades. routes between the Middle East and Asia. The spree sent charter rates down as much as 90% and halved the value of vessels bought at the top of the market, according to data from maritime consultancy Clarkson Research Services. The list of Asian shipping rms seeking rescue is lengthening. STX Pan Ocean, which got court approval to restructure on June 17, is the biggest shipping failure in Asia. It had total debt of $4.94bn as of the rst quarter of 2013, its main creditor has said. Anybody who owned a ship for three or four years and still owns it is a candidate for restructuring, said Paul Leand Jr., chief executive of AMA Capital Partners, a New York-based maritime merchant bank. People are running out of money to pay operating costs and interest. With European banks facing stricter capital requirements at home, traditional ship nancing is harder than ever to obtain, further boosting the allure of private equity investment. Bank lending to the shipping industry via syndicated loans at $52bn last year was nearly half the $91.8bn in 2008, just before the nancial crisis, according to gures from Dealogic and Marine Money. The interest from private equity is being driven by expectations that the shipping industry will nally pull out of a prolonged slump. Barclays Bank estimated in a June report that the volume of seaborne dry cargo will start to outpace fleet growth by next year, increasing by 6.3% against a 3.8% uptick in vessel supply. The price of new dry bulk and container ships has risen by up to 2.5% in the last three months, according to Clarkson data, after falling since 2010. Over the same three month period, prices for secondhand dry cargo ships have climbed by up to 18%. Lots of funds are running around and ordering new ships or at least trying to, said Tim Huxley, chief executive of Hong Kong-based shipowner Wah Kwong Maritime Transport. It will need patience as there wont be an overnight bounce back, but its got plenty of potential if you partner up with the right people. US private equity rm Alterna Capital Partners ordered four tankers costing a total of $130mn in June from South Koreas Hyundai Mipo Dockyard ship brokers in a continuing investment in the tanker sector. Managing partner Jim Furnivall declined to comment. In May, US investment group York Capital Management struck up a joint venture with Greek-owned container ship operator Costamere to spend $500mn acquiring ships. Other deals include New York-based Oaktree Capital Management teaming up with German shipowner Rickmers to order up to 16 container ships. The vessels will be built at an undisclosed Asian shipyard for delivery by mid-2015. Alvarez & Marsal is conducting due diligence on behalf of several private equity funds looking at investments in Asia, according to Ray Dombrowski, a managing director at the corporate advisory rm in New York. The funds are looking at as many as 20 ships in the dry bulk and tanker sector that have been ordered but are not yet under construction at shipyards in China, South Korea and Japan, he added. They believe the ships that are being built are more economic, with more efficient engines, so the cost of operating them will be signicantly lower, Dombrowski said. They are large US-based but global funds who want to be well-positioned when the recovery in the shipping market picks up in earnest.

Suntory in modest debut, may be Japans last big IPO this year
Reuters Tokyo

Indian stocks drop most in two weeks as oil climbs, rupee falls
Bloomberg Mumbai

Asia shares slip as focus turns to release of US jobs data

AFP Tokyo
Asian markets slipped yesterday after taking a lead from Wall Street, with few catalysts driving action ahead of US jobs data, while the dollar eased after breaking 100 in New York.

ndian stocks fell the most in two weeks amid concern the central bank will have less room to cut interest rates as oil prices climb and the rupee weakens. The S&P BSE Sensex retreated 1.5% to 19,177.76 at the close in Mumbai. Reliance Industries, owner of the worlds largest rening complex, fell to a oneweek low. State Bank of India, the biggest lender by assets, dropped to the lowest level in more than nine months. The rupee weakened to within less than 1% of its all-time low. The Reserve Bank of India left its key rate unchanged on June 17, ending three straight cuts. While official data June 14 showed wholesale-price ination slowed to a 43-month low in May, a separate gauge of consumer prices rose 9.31%, the fastest after Argentina in the Group of 20 nations. India buys about 80% of its crude from overseas. The central bank is due to review borrowing costs on July 30. Rising oil prices and a weak rupee is a double whammy for us, Kaushik Dani, a fund manager at Peerless Mutual Fund, which has about $751mn in assets, said by telephone from Mumbai. If the rupee holds at current levels any hope for a rate cut is out of the window. Crude oil gained, with West Texas Intermediate surpassing

A customer hands a bundle of Indian rupee notes to a teller at a financial institution in Mumbai. The rupee weakened 0.9% to Rs60.22 per dollar in Mumbai, its third day of losses, yesterday. $100 a barrel for the first time in nine months, on shrinking US stockpiles and concern Egypts political turmoil will lead to Middle East supply disruption. London-traded Brent crude, the benchmark for twothirds of the worlds oil, rose 1.2% to $105.28 at 5:19pm, a third day of gains. Reliance decreased 2.4% to Rs850.85, a second day of declines. The stock soared 8.8% last week, the sharpest weekly gain since the period ended September 2, 2011. The government June 28 agreed to link naturalgas prices to global benchmarks starting April 1, 2014. State Bank tumbled 4.6% to Rs1,898.75, the lowest level since September 13. HDFC Bank, Indias largest lender by value, dropped 0.9% to Rs650.65. ICICI Bank retreated 1.4% to Rs1,064. Indian Oil Corp, the countrys biggest state rener, sank 4.6% to Rs225.7. Bharat Petroleum Corp and Hindustan Petroleum Corp both lost 3.8%. The fuel retailers, which are not members of the Sensex, sell diesel, kerosene and cooking gas below cost to help curb ination. While the government compensates them for such losses, higher oil prices increase their import costs. The rupee weakened 0.9% to Rs60.22 per dollar in Mumbai,

its third day of losses. The currency plunged to an all-time low of 60.7650 on June 26 after the US Federal Reserve signaled it may pare stimulus measures this year. The one big concern among investors is Indias inability to manage its current-account deficit and the impact of that on the currency, Ashok Wadhwa, group chief executive officer at Ambit Holdings, said in an interview to Bloomberg TV India yesterday. Investors believe in Indias medium to long-term story but are suspicious and concerned about the short-term story. The imbalance in Indias current account, the broadest gauge of trade, is the biggest risk to an economy that grew a decade-low 5% in the year ended March, according to the central bank. The International Monetary Fund estimates the gap at 4.9% of GDP this year, compared with 3.3% in Indonesia and a surplus of 2.6% in China. The Sensex has retreated 5.5% from a two-year high reached on May 17 as the prospect of reduced monetary easing by the US prompted global investors to pull money from emerging markets. They sold a net $1.76bn of Indian equities in June, ending 12 straight months of buying. Foreigners sold $1.1mn of local stocks on Tuesday, paring this years inows into stocks to $13.5bn. The CNX Nifty Index on the National Stock Exchange of India slid 1.5% to 5,770.90.

Concerns about Greece returned as creditors pushed its leaders to implement huge cuts agreed as part of a bailout, fuelling fears Athens could be denied much-needed cash. Tokyo fell 0.31%, or 43.18 points, to 14,055.56 with buying on the back of the weakening yen offset by profit-taking after the index posted gains of more than 9% over the past four sessions. Hong Kong tumbled 2.48%, or 511.34 points, to 20,147.31 and Shanghai was off 0.61%, or 12.29 points, at 1,994.27. Chinese and Hong Kong investors have become more nervous about the mainland economy after more manufacturing data showed it was slowing down. Seoul was 1.64%, or 30.36 points, lower at 1,824.66. Sydney closed down 1.86%, or 89.9 points, at 4,744.1 after surging 2.6% on Tuesday. Global markets have enjoyed a broad uptick in the past few sessions as concerns over the US Federal Reserves stimulus programme have eased, while US and European data have pointed to gradual improvement. However, traders remain edgy ahead of US nonfarm jobs data due tomorrow, which will give a better idea of the state of the worlds biggest economy.

On currency markets, the dollar dipped slightly against the yen after breaking the 100 barrier for the first time in almost a month in New York. Afternoon Asian trade yesterday saw it buying 100.10, compared with 100.63 in New York, but it is still well up from 99.60 in Tokyo on Tuesday. The euro bought $1.2937 and 129.39, against $1.2978 and 130.60 in New York. In Tokyo, shares in the foodand-beverage unit of Suntory rose more than 2% after the biggest initial public offering in Japan this year. Suntory Beverage and Food stocks jumped 1.5%. Oil prices rose, fuelled by growing concerns that the political crisis in Egypt could disrupt supplies from the Middle East. New Yorks main contract, West Texas Intermediate light sweet crude for delivery in August, was up $2.25 at $101.85 a barrel in afternoon trade. Brent North Sea crude for August gained $1.13 to $105.13. Gold fell to $1,245.50 per ounce at 1045 GMT, compared with $1,260.17 late Tuesday. In other markets, Taipei fell 1.30%, or 104.44 points, to 7,911.42; Wellington shed 0.17%, or 7.50 points, to close at 4,450.76; Singapore was down 1.38%, or 43.83 points, to 3,129.49; Jakarta ended down 3.20%, or 151.55 points, at 4,557.15; Bangkok dropped 1.39% or 20.41 points to 1,443.57; and Kuala Lumpur shares fell 2.68 points, or 0.15%, to close at 1,769.21.

untory Beverage and Food Ltd managed a modest rise in its debut yesterday after a $4bn IPO, as investors shrugged off volatile markets and rich valuations to buy up what may be Japans last big corporate listing of 2013. Suntorys offering, Asias biggest IPO so far this year and aimed at building up a warchest for overseas acquisitions, is part of a surge in Japanese equity issuance as companies cash in on higher valuations from a rallying stock market. The rally stalled in mid-May and the market has turned volatile but Prime Minister Shinzo Abes reationary policies continue to support less high-prole equity issuance, with advertising rm Dentsu announcing yesterday it would tap the market for $1.2bn in a secondary offering to pay down debt. Suntory Beverage rose to 3,145 yen in its maiden session, up 1.5% from the IPO price of 3,100 and defying weak signals from the grey market, where it traded last week at 2,900 yen. Japans second-biggest soft drinks company, whose brands include Orangina, attracted retail investors with its high-prole brands while institutional players shifted from rival drinks makers to balance their sector holdings. Rival Kirin Holdings Co fell 2% and Asahi Group Holdings dropped 0.5%. The benchmark Nikkei average was down 0.3%. But investors remained cautious about the shares outlook given their high valuations, considered overly generous even for a venerable Japanese brand and despite the recent share rally. Japanese equity issuance jumped to $27.8bn in the rst six months of this year, quadruple the year-ago volume according to Thomson Reuters data. That was nearly one-fourth of deals in Asia, up sharply from a 7% share in 2012 and a 15% average over the past ve years. In addition to Suntory, real estate investment trusts have been major fund-raisers this year, including a $1.8bn offering by Nomura Real Estate Master Fund and a $1.1bn offering by Nippon Prologis Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT).

Gulf Times Thursday, July 4, 2013

45

BUSINESS
SAUDI ARABIA
Company Name
Saudi British Bank Sabb Takaful Saudi Basic Industries Corp Saudi Cement Sasco Saudi Dairy & Foodstuff Co Saudi Arabian Fertilizer Co Al Sagr Co-Operative Insuran Saudi Advanced Industries Saudi Arabian Coop Ins Co Salama Cooperative Insurance Samba Financial Group Sanad Cooperative Insurance Saudi Public Transport Co Saudi Arabian Refinery Co Hsbc Amanah Saudi 20 Etf Saudi Re For Cooperative Rei Savola Saudi Cable Co Saudi Chemical Company Saudi Ceramic Saudi Electricity Co Saudi Fisheries Al-Hassan G.I. Shaker Co Saudi Hotels & Resort Arabian Shield Cooperative Saudi Investment Bank Saudi Industrial Development Saudi Industrial Export Co

KUWAIT
Lt Price
37.80 34.60 92.25 99.00 21.60 85.75 143.00 23.85 15.70 54.75 60.25 50.50 27.20 15.60 59.75 25.60 10.30 49.10 13.25 46.40 111.50 12.90 31.40 87.00 30.90 47.80 22.35 15.60 46.60

OMAN
Lt Price
47.00 0.00 0.00 295.00 1,100.00 64.00 63.00 67.00 62.00 0.00 154.00 154.00 81.00 242.00 94.00 38.50 126.00 60.00 0.00 206.00 0.00 124.00 144.00 0.00 166.00 67.00 95.00 530.00 930.00 120.00 290.00 88.00 255.00 158.00 2,160.00 94.00 176.00 138.00 114.00 224.00 150.00 238.00 1,100.00 63.00 106.00 162.00 88.00 53.00 118.00 270.00 230.00 112.00 50.00 93.00 0.00 140.00 86.00 99.00 0.00

% Chg
-0.53 -0.57 -0.27 0.25 -0.69 -1.44 0.00 -0.63 -0.32 0.46 2.12 -1.46 -1.45 -0.95 -0.83 0.00 -0.48 -0.41 -0.75 -1.28 -0.67 0.39 0.00 0.58 -2.52 -2.45 0.68 -1.27 -0.21

Volume
91,443 204,762 3,819,275 177,547 895,500 36,702 142,525 223,698 391,777 994,827 1,580,316 287,506 1,345,807 854,569 153,888 33,099 1,277,399 88,502 372,603 228,347 139,344 981,327 934,938 172,588 868,428 767,096 333,804 381,942 399,326

Company Name
Kuwaiti Syrian Holding Co Kuwait Invest Co Holding Kuwait Reinsurance Co Ksc Kgl Logistics Company Kscc Mabanee Co Sakc Al-Madar Finance & Invt Co Manafae Investment Co Manazel Holding Real Estate Trade Centers Co Markaz Real Estate Fund Marine Services Co Kuwait Financial Centre Al Masaken Intl Real Estate Mashaer Holdings Al-Massaleh Real Estate Co National Ranges Company Al-Mazaya Holding Co Mena Real Estate Co Mena Holding Group Al Mowasat Health Care Co Al Maidan Dental Clinic Co K Metal & Recycling Co Mushrif Trading & Contractin Mubarrad Transport Co Munshaat Real Estate Project Kuwait Resorts Co Kscc Nafais Holding National Petroleum Services National Bank Of Kuwait National Consumer Holding Co National Industries Co National International Co National Industries Grp Hold National Investments Co National Mobile Telecommuni Noor Financial Investment K. National Real Estate Co National Slaughter House Osoul Investment Kscc Oula Fuel Marketing Co Palms Agro Production Co Shuaiba Industrial Co Kuwait Portland Cement Co Pearl Of Kuwait Real Estate Kuwait Pipes Indus & Oil Ser Kuwait United Poultry Co Umm Al Qaiwain Cement Indust Qurain Holding Co Real Estate Asset Management Refrigeration Industries Co Kuwait Remal Real Estate Co Ras Al Khaimah Co Al Safat Real Estate Co Al-Safat Tec Holding Co Safwan Trading & Contracting Salbookh Trading Co K.S.C.C Sanam Real Estate Co Kscc Sharjah Cement & Indus Devel Securities House Kscc

% Chg
5.62 0.00 0.00 1.72 0.00 -1.54 0.00 -1.47 1.64 0.00 0.00 1.32 0.00 0.00 -2.08 0.00 0.00 5.26 0.00 3.00 0.00 0.00 1.41 0.00 0.00 8.06 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 7.41 1.15 0.00 0.00 -0.92 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.90 0.00 4.39 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 1.15 1.92 -1.67 0.00 0.00 0.00 -1.96 0.00 0.00 1.45 -1.15 1.02 0.00

Volume
9,041,983 259,657 201,710 89,697 65,100 8,675,095 165,580 2,200 767 24,210 10,000 630,478 95,919,027 711,380 993,668 500 147,000 683,574 3,190,182 5,284,046 4,150 9,102 353,147 9,000 1,000 226,350 709,010 1,309,521 2,500 70,540 3,193,811 1,000 41,043 115,597 25,286 1,000 14,000 2,648,708 773,620 300 1,634,368 3,181,756 30,482 1,978 4,818,402 60,000 4,086,827 54,000 405,701 569,469 581,300 -

Company Name
Financial Corp/The Dhofar Tourism Dhofar Poultry Aloula Co Dhofar Intl Development Dhofar Insurance Dhofar University Dhofar Power Co Dhofar Power Co-Pfd Dhofar Fisheries & Food Indu Dhofar Cattlefeed Al Batinah Dev & Inv-50% Dhofar Beverages Co Computer Stationery Inds Construction Materials Ind Cement & Gypsum Pro Marine Bander Al-Rowdha Bank Sohar Bankmuscat Saog Bank Dhofar Saog Al Batinah Hotels Majan College Areej Vegetable Oils Al Jazeera Steel Products Co Al Sallan Food Industry Acwa Power Barka Saog Al-Omaniya Financial Service Taghleef Industries Saog Gulf Plastic Industries Co Al Jazeira Services Al Jazerah Services -Pfd Al-Fajar Al-Alamia Co Ahli Bank Abrasives Manufacturing Co S Al-Batinah Intl Saog

Lt Price
0.10 1.00 1.92 0.00 0.53 0.20 0.85 0.00 0.00 1.28 0.23 0.11 0.26 0.33 0.08 1.00 0.00 0.20 0.59 0.37 1.30 0.37 2.50 0.29 0.00 0.65 0.36 0.00 0.39 0.45 0.55 0.74 0.20 0.05 0.00

% Chg
0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 2.12 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 -1.28 -2.68 0.00 0.00 -1.25 0.00 0.00 -1.00 -1.17 0.00 0.00 2.23 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.28 0.00 0.00 -0.22 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

Volume
236,967 50 26,087 27,189 936,645 225,000 1,591,734 220,800 7,612 10,023 331,248 203,764 61,249 -

QATAR
Company Name
Qatar National Bank Industries Qatar Ezdan Holding Group Qatar Telecom (Qtel) Q.S.C Masraf Al Rayan Commercial Bank Of Qatar Qsc Qatar Fuel Co Qatar Electricity & Water Co Qatar Islamic Bank Doha Bank Qsc Qatar Gas Transport(Nakilat) Barwa Real Estate Co Aamal Co Qatar Navigation Qatar International Islamic Qatar Insurance Co Vodafone Qatar United Development Co Al Ahli Bank Gulf International Services Al Khaliji Bank Qatar National Cement Co Mannai Corporation Qsc Qatari Investors Group Al Meera Consumer Goods Co Qatar General Insurance & Re Qatar Industrial Manufactur Gulf Warehousing Company National Leasing Salam International Investme Medicare Group Qatar Meat & Livestock Co Mazaya Qatar Real Estate Dev Qatar Islamic Insurance Zad Holding Co Al Khaleej Takaful Group Doha Insurance Co Dlala Holding Qatar & Oman Investment Co Qatar Cinema & Film Distrib Qatar German Co For Medical Islamic Holding Group

Lt Price
162.70 158.60 17.42 121.30 27.70 70.50 253.70 163.00 68.20 46.85 18.79 26.55 14.40 72.50 53.70 60.20 9.03 22.45 55.20 41.60 16.82 100.50 87.90 27.05 136.50 46.60 51.60 41.80 37.20 13.00 43.30 63.30 11.40 60.50 60.00 43.30 25.25 26.70 13.64 55.40 16.02 42.60

% Chg
0.12 0.32 0.11 -0.16 0.00 -0.28 0.79 -0.79 0.15 0.00 0.43 -0.19 0.21 -0.68 0.75 0.17 -0.55 0.13 0.00 -0.36 -0.24 0.40 -0.11 -0.18 0.00 0.00 -1.15 0.24 0.54 0.00 1.76 -0.31 0.44 0.00 0.00 0.00 -0.59 0.38 -0.07 5.32 -1.05 -1.05

Volume
224,239 156,860 1,885 25,298 213,932 138,277 33,212 82,152 51,113 82,905 186,227 145,945 16,175 33,865 26,798 1,049 134,363 299,137 150 300,185 850 68,936 250 16,935 1,616 1,600 1,697 40 5,730 320,971 71,047 27,269 3,686 6,766 390 15,001 325,572 471 167,245 20,210

KUWAIT
Company Name
Aayan Leasing & Investment Aayan Real Estate Co Burgan Co For Well Drilling Al Ahli Bank Of Kuwait Abyaar Real Eastate Developm Acico Industries Co Kscc Al-Dar National Real Estate Afaq Educational Services Al Arabi Group Holding Co Agility Al-Ahleia Insurance Co Ajwan Gulf Real Estate Co Aviation Lease And Finance C Al Aman Investment Company Kuwait Real Estate Holding C Al-Deera Holding Co Al-Eid Food Co Alimtiaz Investment Co Kscc Alkout Industrial Projects C Al Madina For Finance And In Al Mal Investment Company Al Mudon Intl Real Estate Co Ahli United Bank (Almutahed) Al-Nawadi Holding Co K.S.C First Investment Co Kscc Al-Qurain Petrochemicals Co Alrai Media Group Co Al Safwa Group Co Al Salam Group Holding Co Alshamel International Hold Commercial Real Estate Co Amar Finance & Leasing Co Amwal International Investme Aqar Real Estate Investments Arab Real Estate Co Ajial Real Estate Entmt Alargan International Real Arkan Al Kuwait Real Estate Automated Systems Co Advanced Technology Co Ahli United Bank B.S.C Al Bareeq Holding Co Kscc Bayan Investment Co Kscc Boubyan Intl Industries Hold Bahrain Kuwait Insurance Boubyan Bank K.S.C Boubyan Petrochemicals Co Burgan Bank Gulf Cable & Electrical Ind Kuwait Cable Vision Sak Livestock Transport & Tradng Commercial Bank Of Kuwait Combined Group Contracting City Group National Cleaning Company Coast Investment Development Dulaqan Real Estate Co Danah Alsafat Foodstuff Co Educational Holding Group Egyptian Kuwaiti Holding Co Ekttitab Holding Co S.A.K.C Energy Holding Co Kscc/The Equipment Holding Co K.S.C.C Al-Enmaa Real Estate Co Kuwait Bahrain International Eyas For High & Technical Ed Commercial Facilities Co Fujairah Cement Industries First Dubai Real Estate Deve Flex Resorts & Real Estate Kuwait Foods (Americana) First Takaful Insurance Co Future Communications Co Future Kid Entertainment And Gulf Bank Gulf Cement Co Gulf Franchising Kscc Gulf Finance House Ec Gulf Glass Manuf Co -Kscc Gulf Investment House Gulf Insurance Co Gulf North Africa Holding Co Gulf Petroleum Investment Kuwait Gypsum Manufacturing Hayat Communications Hilal Cement Co Hits Telecom Holding Human Soft Holding Co Intl Financial Advisors Ifa Hotels & Resorts Co. K.S International Finance Co Industrial & Financial Inves Ikarus Petroleum Industries Injazzat Real State Company Inovest Co Bsc Investors Holding Group Co.K Independent Petroleum Group International Resorts Co Housing Finance Co S.A.K.C Ithmaar Bank Bsc Jazeera Airways Jeeran Holdings Kipco Asset Management Co Kuwait Building Materials Kuwait Business Town Real Es Kuwait Cement Co Kuwait China Investment Co Kuwait National Cinema Co Kuwait Medical Services Co Kuwait Co For Process Plant Kuwait Finance & Investment Kuwait Finance House Kuwait Foundry Co Kuwait & Gulf Link Transport Kuwait Hotels Co Kuwait International Bank Kuwait Insurance Co Kuwait Investment Co Kuwait & Middle East Fin Inv Kout Food Group Kuwait Packing Materials Mfg Privatization Holding Compan Kuwait Projects Co Holdings Kuwait Real Estate Co Kuwait Slaughter House Co

Lt Price
77.00 116.00 236.00 520.00 59.00 320.00 60.00 140.00 154.00 660.00 500.00 77.00 295.00 104.00 60.00 52.00 95.00 0.00 550.00 0.00 0.00 250.00 730.00 118.00 118.00 198.00 118.00 0.00 216.00 0.00 95.00 91.00 66.00 108.00 69.00 224.00 156.00 132.00 400.00 810.00 190.00 0.00 93.00 120.00 0.00 630.00 620.00 620.00 1,000.00 72.00 196.00 740.00 1,220.00 430.00 144.00 65.00 0.00 99.00 102.00 204.00 89.00 128.00 265.00 92.00 170.00 0.00 300.00 100.00 128.00 0.00 2,120.00 120.00 152.00 114.00 395.00 106.00 122.00 38.50 640.00 63.00 570.00 68.00 0.00 140.00 112.00 176.00 69.00 0.00 71.00 430.00 75.00 0.00 138.00 98.00 85.00 31.00 360.00 77.00 0.00 72.00 500.00 0.00 116.00 248.00 58.00 345.00 71.00 890.00 150.00 415.00 78.00 670.00 415.00 120.00 174.00 310.00 315.00 118.00 64.00 690.00 455.00 80.00 550.00 81.00 216.00

% Chg
0.00 1.75 -3.28 0.00 3.51 0.00 0.00 7.69 -1.28 0.00 0.00 1.32 1.72 5.05 0.00 -1.89 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 -1.96 0.00 5.36 1.72 1.02 0.00 0.00 4.85 0.00 -1.04 0.00 6.45 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 6.45 6.67 1.25 2.15 0.00 2.20 1.69 0.00 3.28 0.00 1.64 0.00 0.00 0.00 2.78 0.00 0.00 1.41 3.17 0.00 -1.00 0.00 5.15 5.95 4.92 -5.36 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 -1.96 -3.03 0.00 0.00 0.00 1.33 -5.00 -1.25 -1.85 5.17 -1.28 1.59 0.00 0.00 1.49 0.00 7.69 0.00 0.00 7.81 0.00 -1.39 0.00 1.35 0.00 -1.43 -2.00 -1.16 1.64 0.00 -1.28 0.00 1.41 1.01 0.00 0.00 3.33 1.75 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 1.22 1.30 0.00 0.00 -1.64 0.00 0.00 0.00 -1.67 0.00 7.81 0.00 1.27 5.77 -1.22 0.00

Volume
1,494,250 710,700 2,797 263,600 25,693,135 110,000 12,351,080 1,000 100,573 544,348 200 146,500 150,500 15,533,648 75,545 4,244,524 10,000 1,500 5,036,321 25,200 500 720,160 86,803 10,551 571,548 716,607 5,000 500 50 10,032,221 120,000 20,000 31,358 100 600 254,818 3,211,330 1,696,763 174,357 4,800 406,664 165,100 1,500 2,000 1,000 5,000 6,536 1,275,983 8,407,326 5,171,140 4,883 181,514 7,655,975 1,379,602 734,518 15,164 349,553 30,219 2,282,050 1,702,511 77,500 28 10,000 240,526 2,771,595 753,559 47 78,094,582 2,500 18,116,914 32,282 2,666,604 10 692,836 4,000 26,422,261 2,042,009 10,000 491,550 193,998 6,813,352 2,414,638 32,025,258 500 1,893,520 7,465,112 1,090,010 40,026 900 5,090,096 55,000 722,640 1,937 500 41,900 24 2,430,914 127,348 2,273,531 3,684 253,864 550 1,513,530 141,150 45,001 20,001 1,925,818 2,534,080 6,842,356 20,000

UAE
Company Name
National Takaful Company Waha Capital Pjsc Union Insurance Co Union National Bank/Abu Dhab United Insurance Company Union Cement Co United Arab Bank Abu Dhabi National Takaful C Abu Dhabi National Energy Co Sudan Telecommunications Co$ Sorouh Real Estate Company Sharjah Insurance Company Sharjah Cement & Indus Devel Ras Al Khaima Poultry Ras Al Khaimah Co Rak Properties Ras Al-Khaimah National Insu Ras Al Khaimah Ceramics Ras Al Khaimah Cement Co National Bank Of Ras Al-Khai Qatar Telecom (Qtel) Q.S.C Umm Al Qaiwain Cement Indust Oman & Emirates Inv(Emir)50% National Marine Dredging Co National Corp Tourism & Hote Sharjah Islamic Bank National Bank Of Umm Al Qaiw National Bank Of Fujairah National Bank Of Abu Dhabi Methaq Takaful Insurance #N/A Invalid Security Gulf Pharmaceutical Ind-Julp Investbank Insurance House Gulf Medical Projects Gulf Livestock Co Green Crescent Insurance Co Gulf Cement Co Foodco Holding Finance House First Gulf Bank Fujairah Cement Industries Fujairah Building Industries Emirates Telecom Corporation Eshraq Properties Co Pjsc Emirates Insurance Co. (Psc) Emirates Driving Company Al Dhafra Insurance Co. P.S. Dana Gas Commercial Bank Internationa Bank Of Sharjah Abu Dhabi Natl Co For Buildi Al Wathba National Insurance Intl Fish Farming Co-Asmak Arkan Building Materials Co Aldar Properties Pjsc Al Ain Ahlia Ins. Co. Al Khazna Insurance Co Agthia Group Pjsc Al Fujairah National Insuran Abu Dhabi Ship Building Co Abu Dhabi National Insurance Abu Dhabi National Hotels Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank Abu Dhabi Aviation

Lt Price
0.90 0.87 1.00 4.65 0.00 1.08 4.15 5.75 1.28 1.07 2.72 0.00 0.95 1.41 1.40 0.55 0.00 1.80 0.95 6.00 117.00 1.19 1.10 9.25 7.40 1.34 3.45 3.70 11.35 1.40 0.00 3.03 2.60 1.15 2.70 0.00 1.21 1.42 1.91 3.16 15.95 0.00 0.00 11.15 0.51 0.00 3.01 7.00 0.56 1.58 1.60 0.56 0.00 0.00 0.82 2.24 40.00 0.97 3.21 0.00 1.28 5.40 2.16 4.45 4.98 2.85

% Chg
0.00 1.16 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 15.00 -0.78 0.94 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 -1.04 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 -1.47 0.00 0.00 -1.30 0.72 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 -9.91 0.00 -0.93 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 1.82 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 5.13 -0.44 0.00 0.00 0.31 0.00 -1.54 0.00 -10.00 -1.77 -0.60 0.00

Volume
25,275 1,998,492 1,121,200 341,369 25,000 120,003 3,000 360,502 20,000 22,740,752 1,634 85,000 5,000 3,911,000 20,000 668,400 192,106 825 20,000 880 15,565 2,400 115,724 1,000 500 139,485 8,946,367 26,012 918,623 10,000 5,491 19,567 100 4,535 134 1,039,658 840,093 1,764,006 165,000 3,066,090 6,491,778 28,000 1,598,766 66,400 83,000 33,036,642 1,186 2,000 1,000 10,000 11,250 10,602 110,943 1,197,797 10,000

SAUDI ARABIA
Company Name
Saudi Hollandi Bank Al-Ahsa Development Co. Al-Baha Development & Invest Ace Arabia Cooperative Insur Allied Cooperative Insurance Arriyadh Development Company Fitaihi Holding Group Arabia Insurance Cooperative Al Abdullatif Industrial Inv Al-Ahlia Cooperative Insuran Al Alamiya Cooperative Insur Dar Al Arkan Real Estate Dev Al Babtain Power & Telecommu Bank Albilad Alujain Corporation (Alco) Aldrees Petroleum And Transp Fawaz Abdulaziz Alhokair & C Alinma Bank Alinma Tokio Marine Al Khaleej Training And Educ Abdullah A.M. Al-Khodari Son Allianz Saudi Fransi Coopera Almarai Co Ltd Saudi Integrated Telecom Co Alsorayai Group Al Tayyar Amana Cooperative Insurance Anaam International Holding Abdullah Al Othaim Markets Arabian Pipes Co Advanced Petrochemicals Co Al Rajhi Co For Co-Operative Arabian Cement Arab National Bank Ash-Sharqiyah Development Co United Wire Factories Compan Astra Industrial Group Alahli Takaful Co Aseer Axa Cooperative Insurance Basic Chemical Industries Bishah Agriculture Bank Al-Jazira Banque Saudi Fransi United International Transpo Bupa Arabia For Cooperative Buruj Cooperative Insurance Saudi Airlines Catering Co Methanol Chemicals Co City Cement Co Eastern Cement Etihad Atheeb Telecommunicat Etihad Etisalat Co Emaar Economic City Saudi Enaya Cooperative Insu United Electronics Co Falcom Saudi Equity Etf Filing & Packing Materials M Food Products Company Falcom Petrochemical Etf Gulf General Cooperative Ins Jazan Development Co Gulf Union Cooperative Insur Halwani Bros Co Hail Cement Herfy Food Services Co Al Jouf Agriculture Developm Jarir Marketing Co Jabal Omar Development Co Al Jouf Cement Saudi Kayan Petrochemical Co Knowledge Economic City Kingdom Holding Co Saudi Arabian Mining Co Malath Insurance Makkah Construction & Devepl Mediterranean & Gulf Insuran Middle East Specialized Cabl Mohammad Al Mojil Group Co Al Mouwasat Medical Services National Agriculture Develop Najran Cement Co Nama Chemicals Co National Gypsum National Gas & Industrializa National Industrialization C Maadaniyah National Shipping Co Of/The National Petrochemical Co Rabigh Refining And Petroche Al Qassim Agricultural Co Qassim Cement/The Red Sea Housing Services Co Saudi Research And Marketing Riyad Bank Al Rajhi Bank Saudi Arabian Amiantit Co

Lt Price
33.20 13.35 0.00 67.25 37.80 22.95 15.20 28.00 40.90 49.70 56.00 10.25 24.30 25.50 14.90 37.60 166.00 13.80 68.25 35.90 34.10 75.50 71.50 0.00 19.75 68.50 36.00 35.00 115.25 20.95 31.40 49.80 68.00 31.00 58.25 39.90 45.20 54.50 18.40 47.10 32.20 0.00 26.90 33.70 59.50 29.60 44.70 122.00 12.50 22.60 58.50 15.50 80.25 9.95 37.00 101.75 25.40 46.50 35.40 25.70 44.90 17.10 28.80 59.50 20.20 121.50 47.00 195.75 28.60 16.95 11.45 14.25 18.25 29.00 19.95 70.00 20.60 19.30 0.00 72.00 26.60 27.20 12.15 31.30 19.90 26.00 36.00 19.70 22.60 15.90 13.00 82.75 37.90 19.50 24.85 75.50 13.95

% Chg
-0.90 -0.37 0.00 2.28 4.13 -0.65 -0.65 -0.71 0.25 -0.60 -0.88 -1.91 -1.82 -1.16 -1.32 -1.05 0.00 -1.08 -0.73 1.13 -1.73 -1.63 1.06 0.00 -0.50 -1.44 -0.28 -0.57 -0.43 -0.95 -0.95 -1.87 0.00 -1.27 0.00 1.53 -3.62 0.00 0.27 -0.21 -1.23 0.00 -1.47 0.30 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 -0.40 -1.09 -0.43 -1.59 -0.62 -1.49 -1.60 3.04 0.00 -0.85 5.99 0.00 0.00 1.79 -3.03 -0.42 -0.49 -0.82 -1.67 -0.63 -0.69 -0.29 -0.43 -0.35 -1.35 -0.68 -0.25 -2.10 -0.48 -1.28 0.00 -2.37 -0.37 -1.09 -0.82 0.00 -0.50 -1.14 0.00 -1.25 -0.44 -0.31 -0.76 0.00 -1.56 -1.27 0.00 0.00 0.00

Volume
97,044 446,550 1,517,224 2,951,415 855,860 445,695 590,703 96,797 889,740 531,847 11,093,929 305,375 558,997 1,698,351 202,382 118,440 21,073,918 288,287 245,679 518,272 493,312 337,077 353,556 577,267 226,234 155,270 32,039 742,856 117,194 352,505 61,244 150,270 335,820 1,415,119 222,888 212,579 2,166,704 1,028,347 450,705 594,818 256,379 178,659 206,698 330,637 106,852 492,448 1,017,383 28,359 4,816,309 1,106,357 12,715,010 468,299 194,906 1,000 385,487 4,744,698 5,000 693,813 1,801,533 2,125,776 275,617 356,829 156,698 225,807 14,594 1,107,855 331,072 2,194,748 2,094,785 209,550 592,813 531,785 236,211 223,541 1,740,964 187,871 478,621 770,535 1,290,902 433,247 274,964 1,278,103 1,105,349 895,727 158,602 323,774 1,393,381 10,420 230,344 169,651 148,183 2,429,330 307,028

OMAN
Company Name
Voltamp Energy Saog United Finance Co United Power Co United Power/Energy Co- Pref Transgulf Investment Hldg Co Taageer Finance Salalah Port Services Asaffa Foods Saog Sohar Poultry Shell Oman Marketing Shell Oman Marketing - Pref Smn Power Holding Saog Al Shurooq Inv Ser Al Sharqiya Invest Holding Sohar Power Co Salalah Beach Resort Saog Salalah Mills Co Sahara Hospitality Renaissance Services Saog Raysut Cement Co Port Service Corporation Packaging Co Ltd Oman United Insurance Co Oman Textile Holding Co Saog Oman Telecommunications Co Sweets Of Oman Oman Orix Leasing Co. Oman Refreshment Co Oman Packaging Oman Oil Marketing Company 0Man Oil Marketing Co-Pref Oman National Investment Co Oman National Engineering An Oman National Dairy Products Ominvest Oman Medical Projects Oman Ceramic Com Oman Intl Marketing Oman Investment & Finance Hsbc Bank Oman Oman Hotels & Tourism Co Oman Holding International Oman Fiber Optics Oman Flour Mills Oman Filters Industry Oman Fisheries Co Oman Education & Training In Oman & Emirates Inv(Om)50% Oman & Emirates Inv(Emir)50% Oman Europe Foods Industries Oman Cement Co Oman Chlorine Oman Chromite Oman Cables Industry Oman Agricultural Dev Omani Qatari Telecommunicati National Securities Oman Foods International Soa National Pharmaceutical-Rts National Pharmaceutical National Packaging Fac National Mineral Water National Hospitality Institu National Gas Co National Finance Co National Detergents/The National Carpet Factory National Bank Of Oman Saog National Biscuit Industries National Real Estate Develop Natl Aluminium Products Muscat Thread Mills Co Muscat Insurance Company Modern Poultry Farms Muscat National Holding Musandam Marketing & Invest Al Maha Petroleum Products M Muscat Gases Company Saog Majan Glass Company Muscat Finance Al Kamil Power Co Interior Hotels Hotels Management Co Interna Al-Hassan Engineering Co Gulf Stone Gulf Mushroom Company Gulf Invest. Serv. Pref-Shar Gulf Investments Services Gulf International Chemicals Gulf Hotels (Oman) Co Ltd Global Fin Investment Galfar Engineering&Contract Galfar Engineering -Prefer Financial Services Co. Flexible Ind Packages

Lt Price
0.40 0.16 1.15 1.00 0.15 0.16 0.53 0.85 0.21 2.24 1.05 5.13 1.04 0.19 2.32 1.36 1.34 2.45 0.61 1.97 0.49 0.37 0.24 0.30 1.53 0.95 0.15 2.20 0.30 1.99 0.25 0.37 0.34 0.00 0.45 0.00 0.50 0.52 0.27 0.00 2.21 0.45 2.76 0.65 0.04 0.11 0.35 0.18 0.00 1.00 0.74 0.63 3.90 1.87 1.45 0.51 0.07 0.17 0.00 0.10 0.00 0.04 2.05 0.42 0.17 0.90 0.00 0.27 3.75 0.00 0.31 0.18 0.00 0.00 1.76 0.00 20.50 0.86 0.31 0.16 2.50 0.13 1.25 0.21 0.08 0.40 0.13 0.17 0.17 11.00 0.15 0.36 0.45 0.12 0.13

% Chg
0.00 0.65 0.00 0.00 -1.91 1.29 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 -2.58 1.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 -0.65 0.36 0.20 0.00 -1.63 0.00 -0.26 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 -1.58 0.00 0.00 -1.75 0.00 0.00 0.00 -1.09 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 -2.75 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.38 0.00 -1.17 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.37 0.00 0.00 -1.59 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.48 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 -3.76 0.00 0.00 0.00 -1.79 -1.18 0.00 0.00 -0.83 0.00 0.00 0.00

Volume
31,553 65,000 1,800,537 18,733 190 157,463 5,565 261,159 117,263 6,000 170,800 114,430 33,877 36,140 265,600 500 714,362 4,000 261,899 24,655 228,250 1,574 10,000 85,000 2,148 212,670 491,950 233,606 196,754 42,113 345,735 -

BAHRAIN
Company Name
United Paper Industries Bsc United Gulf Investment Corp United Gulf Bank United Finance Co Trafco Group Bsc Takaful International Co Taib Bank -$Us Securities & Investment Co Seef Properties Sudan Telecommunications Co$ Al-Salam Bank Delmon Poultry Co National Hotels Co National Bank Of Bahrain Nass Corp Bsc Khaleeji Commercial Bank Ithmaar Bank Bsc Investcorp Bank -$Us Inovest Co Bsc Intl Investment Group-Kuwait Gulf Monetary Group Global Investment House Kscc Gulf Finance House Ec Bahrain Family Leisure Co Esterad Investment Co B.S.C. Bahrain Duty Free Complex Bahrain Car Park Co Bahrain Cinema Co Bahrain Tourism Co Bahraini Saudi Bank/The Bahrain National Holding Bankmuscat Saog Bmmi Bsc Bmb Investment Bank Bahrain Kuwait Insurance Bahrain Islamic Bank Gulf Hotel Group B.S.C Bahrain Flour Mills Co Bahrain Commercial Facilitie Bbk Bsc Bahrain Telecom Co Bahrain Ship Repair & Engin Albaraka Banking Group Banader Hotels Co Ahli United Bank B.S.C

Lt Price
0.00 0.12 0.21 0.00 0.24 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.13 0.00 0.10 0.00 0.41 0.62 0.16 0.05 0.25 0.00 0.30 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.14 0.10 0.19 0.72 ` 0.00 0.25 0.00 0.36 0.00 0.78 0.00 0.54 0.14 0.66 0.34 0.57 0.40 0.37 2.00 0.70 0.00 0.67

% Chg
0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 -0.64 1.96 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.75

Volume
65,719 12,481 1,478 15,400 20,000 813 60,000 10,000 179,000 15,000 133 13,000 230,000 9,183 81,863 5,000 40,000 48,000 9,267 827 15,000 15,420 57,750 60,000 25,756 66,000 1,000 234,726 110,000

LATEST MARKET CLOSING FIGURES

46

Gulf Times Thursday, July 4, 2013

BUSINESS
DJIA
Company Name
Exxon Mobil Corp Microsoft Corp General Electric Co Wal-Mart Stores Inc Johnson & Johnson Chevron Corp Intl Business Machines Corp Procter & Gamble Co/The Pfizer Inc Jpmorgan Chase & Co At&T Inc Coca-Cola Co/The Merck & Co. Inc. Verizon Communications Inc Bank Of America Corp Cisco Systems Inc Intel Corp Walt Disney Co/The Home Depot Inc Mcdonalds Corp United Technologies Corp American Express Co Boeing Co/The 3M Co Unitedhealth Group Inc Caterpillar Inc Du Pont (E.I.) De Nemours Hewlett-Packard Co Travelers Cos Inc/The Alcoa Inc

WORLD INDICES
Lt Price
90.56 34.04 74.82 86.44 22.82 119.01 77.91 192.73 52.53 27.61 35.46 40.34 51.00 46.33 12.81 24.63 23.63 63.39 77.60 99.98 94.47 74.26 102.22 109.11 65.19 81.74 52.31 25.12 80.08 7.67

% Chg
-0.09 0.28 0.15 -0.16 -0.36 -0.12 -0.68 0.64 -0.51 -0.32 -0.19 -0.07 0.72 -0.47 -0.67 1.27 -0.38 0.21 0.38 0.05 0.71 -0.48 0.74 0.35 -0.12 -0.90 -0.44 0.40 0.33 -1.73

Volume
2,652,407 7,525,382 912,507 1,508,502 10,966,699 1,225,760 2,966,340 850,676 4,809,309 7,900,306 5,461,195 2,401,091 2,461,802 2,736,494 21,758,434 15,177,874 9,735,128 1,341,551 1,224,807 772,697 858,797 1,296,406 1,193,999 648,159 1,027,425 1,292,192 848,124 2,425,653 321,141 6,857,416

Indices
Dow Jones Indus. Avg S&P 500 Index Nasdaq Composite Index S&P/Tsx Composite Index Mexico Bolsa Index Brazil Bovespa Stock Idx Ftse 100 Index Cac 40 Index Dax Index Ibex 35 Tr Nikkei 225 Japan Topix Hang Seng Index All Ordinaries Indx Nzx All Index Bse Sensex 30 Index Nse S&P Cnx Nifty Index Straits Times Index Karachi All Share Index Jakarta Composite Index

Lt Price
14,977.41 1,610.05 3,439.33 12,115.15 40,627.94 45,585.09 6,211.86 3,693.97 7,802.51 7,748.80 14,055.56 1,173.81 20,147.31 4,727.81 952.82 19,177.76 5,770.90 3,129.49 15,437.93 4,577.15

Change
+45.00 -4.03 +5.93 -63.23 -204.54 +356.14 -92.08 -48.60 -108.26 -137.80 -43.18 +1.97 -511.34 -82.44 -1.51 -286.06 -86.65 -43.83 +108.63 -151.55

TOKYO
Company Name
Bridgestone Corp Asahi Glass Co Ltd Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Meta Sumitomo Metal Industries Kobe Steel Ltd Jfe Holdings Inc Sumitomo Metal Mining Co Ltd Sumitomo Electric Industries Smc Corp Komatsu Ltd Kubota Corp Daikin Industries Ltd Hitachi Ltd Toshiba Corp Mitsubishi Electric Corp Nidec Corp Nec Corp Fujitsu Ltd Panasonic Corp Sharp Corp Sony Corp Tdk Corp Keyence Corp Denso Corp Fanuc Corp Rohm Co Ltd Kyocera Corp Murata Manufacturing Co Ltd Nitto Denko Corp Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Nissan Motor Co Ltd Toyota Motor Corp Honda Motor Co Ltd Suzuki Motor Corp Nikon Corp Hoya Corp Canon Inc Ricoh Co Ltd Dai Nippon Printing Co Ltd Nintendo Co Ltd Itochu Corp Marubeni Corp Mitsui & Co Ltd Tokyo Electron Ltd Sumitomo Corp Mitsubishi Corp Aeon Co Ltd Mitsubishi Ufj Financial Gro Resona Holdings Inc Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdin Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Gr Bank Of Yokohama Ltd/The Mizuho Financial Group Inc Orix Corp Daiwa Securities Group Inc Nomura Holdings Inc Nksj Holdings Inc Ms&Ad Insurance Group Holdin Dai-Ichi Life Insurance Tokio Marine Holdings Inc T&D Holdings Inc Mitsui Fudosan Co Ltd Mitsubishi Estate Co Ltd Sumitomo Realty & Developmnt East Japan Railway Co West Japan Railway Co Central Japan Railway Co Ana Holdings Inc Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Kddi Corp Ntt Docomo Inc Tokyo Electric Power Co Inc Chubu Electric Power Co Inc Kansai Electric Power Co Inc Tohoku Electric Power Co Inc Kyushu Electric Power Co Inc Tokyo Gas Co Ltd Secom Co Ltd Yamada Denki Co Ltd Fast Retailing Co Ltd Softbank Corp

Lt Price
3,690.00 663.00 282.00 0.00 131.00 2,316.00 1,183.00 1,234.00 20,980.00 2,300.00 1,464.00 4,305.00 674.00 491.00 1,023.00 6,980.00 222.00 412.00 818.00 430.00 2,166.00 3,560.00 32,850.00 4,745.00 14,620.00 4,125.00 10,270.00 7,930.00 6,450.00 606.00 1,051.00 6,230.00 3,815.00 2,460.00 2,312.00 2,118.00 3,355.00 1,203.00 923.00 11,630.00 1,176.00 690.00 1,296.00 4,825.00 1,289.00 1,777.00 1,349.00 644.00 496.00 487.00 4,695.00 540.00 209.00 1,436.00 903.00 765.00 2,438.00 2,694.00 152,000.00 3,390.00 1,384.00 3,115.00 2,870.00 4,225.00 8,050.00 4,325.00 12,520.00 213.00 5,140.00 5,020.00 156,200.00 559.00 1,430.00 1,375.00 1,245.00 1,452.00 548.00 5,470.00 4,160.00 34,800.00 5,800.00

% Chg
5.43 -0.90 0.36 0.00 -0.76 0.35 0.42 0.41 0.82 -3.69 -0.75 -0.58 0.00 0.20 3.44 0.43 0.00 -1.90 -1.80 -1.38 -0.91 1.14 0.15 -0.11 0.55 2.10 -0.48 0.63 1.10 4.12 0.57 0.00 0.39 1.99 0.52 -0.61 -0.15 0.08 0.11 0.87 0.09 -0.43 0.08 -3.31 0.08 0.17 0.82 0.78 0.20 0.62 -0.11 2.08 0.00 -0.14 0.33 0.26 -0.33 -0.44 1.67 0.44 -0.86 2.81 4.44 2.55 0.00 0.23 -0.56 -0.93 -0.58 -1.57 -1.08 -10.27 -1.38 -2.41 -2.58 -3.46 0.74 -0.55 -2.12 -1.42 -1.69

Volume
8,170,900 4,076,000 47,662,000 29,454,000 3,473,500 3,651,000 1,896,600 129,300 6,507,600 3,722,000 1,859,500 19,396,000 32,224,000 9,604,000 468,300 12,442,000 7,774,000 9,904,800 67,805,000 10,713,300 1,854,200 169,100 1,959,800 958,200 605,200 564,600 588,400 1,081,100 38,687,000 14,597,500 12,703,800 5,303,300 2,207,000 2,560,700 1,016,600 4,593,500 3,523,000 1,342,000 694,200 10,504,600 10,368,000 7,985,900 1,960,300 3,928,800 5,720,700 4,217,000 75,731,000 12,996,700 24,822,000 7,738,100 7,370,000 122,371,200 5,952,300 17,511,000 49,049,200 1,013,800 1,424,500 64,220 2,132,300 3,064,500 6,475,000 14,570,000 3,728,000 717,000 494,900 456,500 13,627,000 2,627,300 3,261,400 66,399 331,100,600 1,387,100 3,918,300 1,177,400 2,865,900 9,701,000 537,500 728,770 919,900 5,002,500

A trader watches the screens at a bank in Lisbon yesterday. At close, Lisbons key PSI 20 index of leading shares plunged 5.31% lower to 5,236.49 points, following the resignation of two ministers over austerity policies.

FTSE 100
Company Name
Whitbread Plc Wpp Plc Wolseley Plc William Hill Plc Wood Group (John) Plc Weir Group Plc/The Vodafone Group Plc Vedanta Resources Plc United Utilities Group Plc Unilever Plc Tui Travel Plc Tesco Plc Tullow Oil Plc Tate & Lyle Plc Severn Trent Plc Standard Chartered Plc Sse Plc Serco Group Plc Smith & Nephew Plc Smiths Group Plc Standard Life Plc Shire Plc Sage Group Plc/The Schroders Plc Sainsbury (J) Plc Sabmiller Plc Resolution Ltd Rsa Insurance Group Plc Randgold Resources Ltd Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc Rio Tinto Plc Rexam Plc Reed Elsevier Plc Royal Dutch Shell Plc-B Shs Royal Dutch Shell Plc-A Shs Royal Bank Of Scotland Group Reckitt Benckiser Group Plc Pearson Plc Prudential Plc Polymetal International Plc Petrofac Ltd Old Mutual Plc Next Plc National Grid Plc Wm Morrison Supermarkets Melrose Industries Plc Marks & Spencer Group Plc Meggitt Plc London Stock Exchange Group Lloyds Banking Group Plc Legal & General Group Plc Land Securities Group Plc Kingfisher Plc Johnson Matthey Plc Itv Plc Intertek Group Plc Imperial Tobacco Group Plc Imi Plc Intercontinental Hotels Grou Intl Consolidated Airline-Di Hsbc Holdings Plc Hammerson Plc Hargreaves Lansdown Plc Glaxosmithkline Plc Glencore Xstrata Plc Gkn Plc G4s Plc Fresnillo Plc Easyjet Plc Experian Plc Evraz Plc Eurasian Natural Resources Diageo Plc Crh Plc Croda International Plc Capita Plc Compass Group Plc Centrica Plc Carnival Plc Bt Group Plc British Sky Broadcasting Gro Burberry Group Plc Bp Plc Bunzl Plc Bhp Billiton Plc British Land Co Plc Bg Group Plc British American Tobacco Plc Barclays Plc Babcock Intl Group Plc Bae Systems Plc Astrazeneca Plc Aviva Plc Arm Holdings Plc Antofagasta Plc Amec Plc Aggreko Plc Aberdeen Asset Mgmt Plc Admiral Group Plc Associated British Foods Plc Anglo American Plc #N/A Invalid Security

Lt Price
3,108.00 1,130.00 3,038.00 451.80 819.00 2,075.00 187.35 1,007.00 684.50 2,642.00 358.90 330.20 1,504.00 1,057.00 815.00 1,701.00 1,419.00 1,543.00 660.00 727.00 1,339.00 353.20 2,087.00 345.70 2,247.00 358.70 3,115.00 288.30 119.50 4,180.00 1,136.00 2,639.00 474.20 759.50 2,143.00 2,062.50 269.30 4,691.00 1,189.00 1,214.00 1,085.00 1,189.00 180.10 4,654.00 735.50 261.30 260.10 440.30 529.00 1,410.00 63.03 175.70 895.50 353.90 2,666.00 146.50 2,930.00 2,261.00 1,293.00 1,840.00 263.50 679.10 501.50 898.50 1,651.00 266.50 307.70 226.40 905.50 1,316.00 1,144.00 211.10 1,900.50 1,292.00 2,482.00 986.50 854.50 363.60 2,337.00 316.30 811.50 1,361.00 447.45 1,320.00 1,662.50 569.00 1,101.50 3,377.00 279.30 1,083.00 395.60 3,134.00 341.90 817.00 807.50 999.50 1,669.00 375.50 1,318.00 1,738.00 1,203.00 0.00

% Chg
-1.36 -1.14 -1.84 -0.11 -0.49 -3.89 -1.34 -3.08 -1.51 -1.56 0.79 -0.94 0.13 2.32 -0.31 0.95 -3.04 -0.45 -0.83 -1.69 -1.11 -0.37 -1.60 -1.54 -0.75 -0.86 -1.58 -0.59 -0.08 0.75 -2.15 -2.02 -1.90 -0.65 -1.85 -2.09 -1.82 -0.87 -0.25 -0.82 -1.36 -0.50 -2.28 0.45 -1.41 -0.95 -0.88 0.16 0.28 1.00 0.13 -0.28 -0.83 0.37 -0.60 1.45 -0.27 -1.40 -0.77 -2.65 -1.42 -2.26 -0.89 -0.50 -1.14 -3.44 1.89 0.80 -1.42 -1.13 -1.38 2.03 -1.02 -4.58 -0.76 -0.75 -0.47 -0.25 -0.34 0.03 -0.18 -3.13 -1.80 0.38 -2.83 -1.90 -2.05 -1.70 -1.31 -2.87 -0.70 -1.23 -0.64 1.18 -2.18 -1.72 -1.71 -1.80 -0.53 -0.91 -6.02 0.00

Volume
270,864 841,743 409,795 1,565,028 305,819 546,304 37,784,456 699,286 1,240,042 1,826,699 1,226,912 7,157,293 495,805 1,800,712 405,794 671,304 2,269,650 881,050 1,409,128 809,541 615,414 2,517,031 670,756 1,557,818 287,188 2,551,363 1,714,621 1,499,888 5,188,847 465,716 1,918,133 2,526,723 1,547,336 1,464,724 2,338,680 2,387,095 10,988,328 566,805 1,847,390 814,770 2,223,100 405,317 10,809,274 412,268 4,305,469 2,466,108 1,554,192 1,574,420 410,858 232,285 91,871,175 7,547,037 1,046,998 3,310,478 283,456 10,297,545 257,144 1,060,978 372,602 874,031 10,323,514 13,611,498 1,235,485 308,503 3,700,565 18,508,954 3,360,278 3,731,794 936,279 929,634 1,226,119 1,075,365 2,570,999 1,432,594 117,427 391,929 1,716,319 6,473,933 441,633 11,528,046 1,277,155 1,216,727 11,622,914 320,571 6,711,565 2,109,558 3,450,414 1,768,650 37,419,937 415,731 2,799,442 1,072,020 3,576,771 3,608,030 930,213 811,626 356,818 2,359,355 171,718 463,727 5,289,401 -

Euro bourses slump on Portugal crisis

AFP London

uropean stock markets fell yesterday, with shares in Portugal collapsing by almost 5% as the debt-plagued nation was gripped by a political crisis. The falls had been far worse early in the session but shares recovered some ground after upbeat employment data out of the US and despite unfolding turmoil in Egypt. A better than expected US ADP employment report this afternoon as an aperitif for this Fridays US employment report hasnt been enough to placate investor concerns about the knock on effects for further political turmoil in both Egypt and Portugal, as well as a slowdown in China, sending European markets sharply lower, said Michael Hewson, Senior Market Analyst at CMC Markets UK. At close, Lisbons key PSI 20 index of leading shares plunged 5.31% lower to 5,236.49 points, following the resignation of two ministers over austerity policies. In neighbouring Spain, Madrids IBEX 35 index nosedived more than 3% before recovering ground to close 1.56% lower to 7,743.80 points. Londons FTSE 100 lost 1.17% to

6,229.87 points, Frankfurts DAX 30 slid 1.03% to end trading at 7,829.32 points and in Paris the CAC 40 shed 1.08% to close at 3,702.01 points. In foreign exchange deals, the euro fell to $1.2923 - hitting a low last seen on May 29, but it later recovered to $1.3010 compared with $1.2978 late in New York on Tuesday. Markets were rocked after Portugals Foreign Minister Paulo Portas resigned on Tuesday evening, even though his decision was not accepted by the prime minister. This shock to the coalition government came one day after the sudden departure of Finance Minister Vitor Gaspar. The political crisis in recessionwracked Portugal spread concern in world markets of a new wave of instability from the bailed-out nation on the eurozones debt-laden periphery. The yield on benchmark 10-year Portuguese government bonds spiked above 8% for the rst time since November 2012, hitting 8.023% before easing a little. It had closed at 6.720% the previous day. A 10-year borrowing rate of about 8.0% is widely considered unsustainable for a country such as Portugal. Political turmoil in Portugal pushes the countrys 10-year bond yields to climb to 8.0% for the rst time since

November 27, said ETX Capital trader Ishaq Siddiqi. Two high prole ministers resigned from Portugals government over the past two days, triggering worries of instability within the government; and today, there are reports that more ministers are expected to step down as the country struggles to stay on top of its austerity plan. He added that the news would push the focus onto todays interest rate gathering of the European Central Bank, and the subsequent press conference by its chief Mario Draghi. In light of these developments, the ECBs policy meeting tomorrow (Thursday) in that case will be this weeks show stealer as the pressure is on Draghi to respond to the state of affairs in Portugals crumbling government, added Siddiqi. Adding to jitters were renewed concerns over the Chinese economy in the wake of downbeat data on the nations services sector. Wall Street took turbulence in Europe in stride focusing on the rst volley of jobs data before the unemployment report on Friday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average rising 0.50% and the tech-heavy Nasdaq up 0.49%. In the US, the ADP payrolls rm estimated that 188,000 private-sector jobs were generated in June, well above the May reading of 134,000.

HONG KONG
Company Name
Aluminum Corp Of China Ltd-H Bank Of East Asia Bank Of China Ltd-H Bank Of Communications Co-H Belle International Holdings Boc Hong Kong Holdings Ltd Cathay Pacific Airways Cheung Kong Holdings Ltd China Coal Energy Co-H China Construction Bank-H China Life Insurance Co-H China Merchants Hldgs Intl China Mobile Ltd China Overseas Land & Invest China Petroleum & Chemical-H China Resources Enterprise China Resources Land Ltd China Resources Power Holdin China Shenhua Energy Co-H China Unicom Hong Kong Ltd Citic Pacific Ltd Clp Holdings Ltd Cnooc Ltd Cosco Pacific Ltd Esprit Holdings Ltd Foxconn International Hldgs Hang Lung Properties Ltd Hang Seng Bank Ltd Henderson Land Development

HONG KONG
Lt Price
2.29 27.05 3.02 4.74 9.96 23.30 13.26 102.20 3.69 5.15 17.50 22.80 78.40 19.04 5.12 23.05 19.42 18.12 18.22 10.18 8.04 61.90 12.54 9.71 11.70 4.09 25.45 112.50 44.90

% Chg
-3.38 -1.81 -2.89 -3.07 -4.23 -2.51 -0.15 -2.11 -6.58 -2.46 -3.21 -2.77 -2.79 -4.03 -3.94 -4.16 -3.62 -1.31 -6.85 -1.93 -1.59 -1.28 -3.09 -2.22 -0.68 -2.15 -4.50 -1.57 -3.65

Volume
15,910,768 2,960,993 373,013,034 56,760,592 48,051,587 13,535,101 2,574,292 4,142,642 74,981,317 358,882,623 61,176,651 1,854,757 21,459,043 37,663,239 115,659,175 3,970,758 15,264,274 6,062,356 34,701,065 19,249,658 6,368,299 2,182,716 62,639,169 6,782,290 5,295,082 11,990,811 8,098,324 1,866,827 4,587,821

Company Name
Hong Kong & China Gas Hong Kong Exchanges & Clear Hsbc Holdings Plc Hutchison Whampoa Ltd Ind & Comm Bk Of China-H Li & Fung Ltd Mtr Corp New World Development Petrochina Co Ltd-H Ping An Insurance Group Co-H Power Assets Holdings Ltd Sino Land Co Sun Hung Kai Properties Swire Pacific Ltd-A Tencent Holdings Ltd Wharf Holdings Ltd

Lt Price
18.62 115.10 79.80 82.00 4.56 11.04 27.65 10.30 8.80 49.75 66.60 10.38 97.70 91.55 298.80 64.30

% Chg
-1.17 -1.96 -2.09 -0.85 -4.00 0.00 -1.95 -3.92 0.00 -3.30 -2.49 -3.53 -2.25 -1.98 -0.99 -3.38

Volume
10,365,060 3,731,828 15,128,559 8,188,618 502,070,680 19,747,441 4,060,861 21,547,391 192,252,980 29,572,728 2,036,755 7,721,937 5,113,777 1,393,206 4,772,972 5,696,860

SENSEX
Company Name
Ultratech Cement Ltd Tata Motors Ltd Tata Power Co Ltd Tata Consultancy Svcs Ltd Tata Steel Ltd Sun Pharmaceutical Indus Sesa Goa Ltd State Bank Of India Reliance Industries Ltd Reliance Infrastructure Ltd Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd Power Grid Corp Of India Ltd Punjab National Bank Oil & Natural Gas Corp Ltd Ntpc Ltd Nmdc Ltd Maruti Suzuki India Ltd Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd Larsen & Toubro Ltd Lupin Ltd Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd Jindal Steel & Power Ltd Jaiprakash Associates Ltd Itc Ltd Infosys Ltd Indusind Bank Ltd Idfc Ltd Icici Bank Ltd Hindustan Unilever Ltd Hindalco Industries Ltd Hero Motocorp Ltd Hdfc Bank Limited Housing Development Finance Hcl Technologies Ltd Grasim Industries Ltd Gail India Ltd Dr. Reddys Laboratories Dlf Ltd Coal India Ltd Cipla Ltd Cairn India Ltd Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd Bank Of Baroda Bajaj Auto Ltd Bharat Heavy Electricals Bharti Airtel Ltd Axis Bank Ltd Asian Paints Ltd Ambuja Cements Ltd Acc Ltd

GCC INDICES
Indices
Doha Securities Market Saudi Tadawul Kuwait Stocks Exchange Bahrain Stock Exchage Oman Stock Market Abudhabi Stock Market Dubai Financial Market

Lt Price
1,909.00 284.20 82.55 1,489.80 269.55 1,019.75 143.95 1,898.75 850.85 347.00 337.85 108.30 621.85 311.10 144.15 100.00 1,560.95 980.05 1,392.65 830.45 698.85 216.30 51.85 326.35 2,404.50 467.25 124.15 1,064.00 587.85 98.90 1,655.80 650.65 853.60 767.70 2,799.70 329.25 2,210.85 175.90 297.40 396.95 290.20 357.40 543.95 1,890.05 178.80 294.55 1,277.85 4,571.30 188.40 1,204.80

% Chg
-0.74 -0.79 -4.79 -0.72 -4.40 1.18 -4.67 -4.58 -2.41 -2.92 -2.16 -2.74 -5.10 -3.36 -1.00 -3.19 -1.12 0.12 -2.58 3.65 -2.36 1.05 -8.55 0.46 0.02 -1.93 -5.98 -1.40 0.00 -3.47 -1.51 -0.90 -2.46 0.21 0.07 -0.99 -2.32 -4.06 -0.68 -0.06 -1.84 -3.81 -7.93 -1.22 -2.61 -2.74 -2.34 -2.27 1.02 -2.39

Volume
69,446 12,430,434 2,147,132 830,533 4,757,583 986,048 1,401,057 3,029,167 3,289,039 2,982,357 3,958,276 1,872,606 1,316,990 3,320,910 2,065,499 1,514,400 197,945 962,297 1,147,674 1,810,102 460,902 6,102,980 52,956,390 7,143,250 720,040 787,657 12,873,785 3,839,158 2,903,996 6,071,227 119,700 3,547,908 1,839,383 878,319 87,563 2,394,532 380,574 5,251,588 3,166,098 1,087,082 1,956,491 834,392 1,776,408 455,882 2,939,634 4,780,364 1,357,610 69,178 1,916,702 274,864

Lt Price
9,367.54 7,586.31 7,932.73 1,188.82 6,449.45 3,564.24 2,259.84

Change
-1.06 -34.52 +55.84 +2.05 -22.42 -19.50 -0.16

Information contained herein is believed to be reliable and had been obtained from sources believed to be reliable. The accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed. This publication is for providing information only and is not intended as an offer or solicitation for a purchase or sale of any of the financial instruments mentioned. Gulf Times and Doha Bank or any of their employees shall not be held accountable and will not accept any losses or liabilities for actions based on this data.

CURRENCIES
DOLLAR QATAR RIYAL SAUDI RIYAL UAE DIRHAMS BAHRAINI DINAR KUWAITI DINAR

TOKYO
Company Name
Inpex Corp Daiwa House Industry Co Ltd Sekisui House Ltd Kirin Holdings Co Ltd Japan Tobacco Inc Seven & I Holdings Co Ltd Toray Industries Inc Asahi Kasei Corp Sumitomo Chemical Co Ltd Shin-Etsu Chemical Co Ltd Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Kao Corp Takeda Pharmaceutical Co Ltd Astellas Pharma Inc Eisai Co Ltd Daiichi Sankyo Co Ltd Fujifilm Holdings Corp Shiseido Co Ltd Jx Holdings Inc

Lt Price
438,000.00 1,945.00 1,482.00 1,575.00 3,665.00 3,705.00 654.00 666.00 326.00 6,700.00 479.00 3,495.00 4,625.00 5,530.00 4,070.00 1,729.00 2,284.00 1,492.00 484.00

% Chg
2.82 1.62 0.82 -2.05 -0.81 -0.54 0.77 -0.30 -0.61 0.30 0.63 -0.14 0.33 0.73 -0.61 0.88 1.69 0.07 0.62

Volume
19,729 1,736,000 3,615,000 3,988,000 2,012,700 1,694,600 8,574,000 8,312,000 10,100,000 1,301,600 4,477,000 1,590,200 1,596,600 1,252,000 863,900 2,225,700 2,648,600 1,194,000 12,712,600

Gulf Times Thursday, July 4, 2013

51

SPORT
BASEBALL RUGBY

Surging Indians edge Royals to maintain AL Central lead

'To be able to share it with all of these guys is a big thrill for me'
Agencies Los Angeles

ODriscoll dropped as Lions make six changes

Reuters Sydney

he Cleveland Indians recorded their fth straight victory with a 6-5 triumph over the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday to maintain a slim advantaged at the top of the American League Central division. Cleveland blew a 4-0 lead when the Royals put up four runs in the fth inning to tie the contest but the visitors recovered their composure to emerge with the win. Catcher Carlos Santana hit a go-ahead sacrice-y in the seventh, in which Jason Giambi also had an RBI, and the Indians held on down the stretch. The victory kept them half a game ahead of Detroit in the division race after the Tigers won 7-6 in Toronto. Miguel Cabrera smashed a three-run home run for Detroit, his 26th of the season, while Torontos Colby Rasmus had a homer and four RBIs. In Pittsburgh, Philadelphia prevailed 3-1 over the Major League-leading Pirates to snap their nine-game winning streak. St Louis remained two games behind the Pirates in the NL Central, however, after they lost 5-1 to the Angels in Los Angeles. Albert Pujols faced the Cardinals for the rst time since leaving to sign with the Angels after the 2011 season and went 0-for-3, though Los Angeles still won their seventh straight game. In Oakland, the Athletics defeated the Chicago Cubs 8-7 to take over rst place in the AL West. With his team trailing 7-5 in the eighth, Derek Norris slugged a three-run homer to provide the difference for the As and Texas lost 9-2 to Seattle to fall half a game behind. It was a busy day for the Chicago Cubs, who made a pair of trades that sent pitchers to teams trying to push for the playoffs. The Baltimore Orioles acquired starter Scott Feldman along with backup catcher Steve Clevenger from the Cubs in ex-

New York Yankees Ichiro Suzuki bats against Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Samuel Deduno during the first inning of their American League MLB baseball game in Minneapolis on Tuesday. (Reuters)

change for reliever Pedro Strop, starter Jake Arrieta and nancial considerations. Elsewhere, Cincinnati pitcher Homer Bailey threw the second no-hitter of his career as the Reds blanked the San Francisco Giants 3-0 at Great American Ball Park. The 27-year-old Baileys other no-hitter was the last of the 2012 Major League Baseball season and the right-handed pitcher followed that up Tuesday with the rst of this season. Every dog has his day twice, Bailey said. He got Giants batter Gregor Blanco to ground out to third for the nal out of the game. His teammates mobbed Bailey and soaked him in Gatorade in a wild celebration at the pitchers mound. To be able to share it with all of these guys is

a big thrill for me. It really makes me feel good, Bailey added. Bailey had a perfect game heading into the seventh inning until walking Blanco for the lone Giant baserunner of the contest. Bailey said he rst started to think about the no-hitter after completing the seventh inning. Going into eighth I just said Why the hell not? Here we go again. This marks the 16th no-hitter in franchise history and the second one thrown by Bailey in a 20-start span. His other nohitter came on September 28 at Pittsburgh. Bailey tied a team record with his two no-hitters, joining Jim Maloney and Johnny Vander Meer. He was dealing. He had a dynamite fastball and showed

great control, Reds manager Dusty Baker said. What a game. I cant quit smiling. Im so glad for Homer. The last player to pitch the nal no-hitter of a season and the rst of the following one was hall-of-famer Nolan Ryan who did it in 1974 and 1975. Warren Spahn accomplished a similar feat for the Milwaukee Braves in 1960-61. There were seven no-hitters in 2012. Bailey improved to 5-6 on the year as he threw 109 total pitches, including 74 for strikes. Blanco led off the seventh inning with a walk. He went to second on Marco Scutaros groundout and then tried to go to third when Buster Posey hit a soft one to rst. Reds Joey Votto snagged the ball on the bounce and red to third, where Blanco was

tagged out. Giants Pablo Sandoval then struck out swinging to keep the no-hitter bid alive. To be here in front of this crowd meant a lot, Bailey said. Any time a ball is put in play in those situations, you get nervous. Bailey disappeared from the dugout and into the tunnel when it was the Reds turn to bat. By going into the tunnel it clears my mind and keeps me centred, he said. Meanwhile, the Dodgers acquired struggling reliever Carlos Marmol from the Cubs in a deal that saw Los Angeles send over reliever Matt Guerrier. Marmol had fallen out of favour with Chicago and was designated for assignment last month. Los Angeles also receive nancial considerations in the deal.

rian ODriscoll has been dropped for the British and Irish Lions third and decisive test against Australia on Saturday, leaving Welsh lock Alun Wyn Jones to captain a powerful and much-changed side. The team features six changes to the starting line-up from the side that lost 16-15 to the Wallabies in Melbourne last Saturday, which levelled the three-match series following the Lions 23-21 victory in the Brisbane opener. Irish centre ODriscoll, expected by many to take the captaincy after Sam Warburton suffered a tour-ending hamstring injury, was left out of the matchday squad altogether, bringing a premature end to his 12-year career with the tourists. The 34-year-old, who was on his fourth Lions tour but still searching for his rst test series win, started both previous tests but coach Warren Gatland said he thought Welshman Jamie Roberts offered something more . Obviously he was pretty disappointed as anyone is disappointed but he appreciated the fact that he was spoken to before the announcement, Gatland told a news conference in Noosa, Queensland. Its the rst time any coach has ever had that decision with him in 15 years of rugby so its not easy for that to be the rst time. Hes still going to be very important to us in the next 72 hours in terms of his experience and leadership. Roberts, who missed the rst two tests with a hamstring injury, and Jonathan Davies will instead start in the centres, two of 10 Welshmen in the starting line-up. Toby Faletau comes in at number eight for Irelands Jamie Heaslip and Mike Phillips, who played in the rst test but was rested for the second because of concerns about his knee, returns at scrumhalf in place of Englands Ben Youngs. Irishman Sean OBrien replaces Warburton at openside anker in the new-look back row, which suggests the Li-

Brian ODriscoll ons will again look to blow the Wallabies away up front rather than play too expansively. Loosehead prop Alex Corbisiero returns in the front row after missing the second test with a calf problem, pushing his England team mate Mako Vunipola, who was heavily penalised at the scrum in Melbourne, back to the bench. Welshman Richard Hibbard gets the nod over Englands Tom Youngs at hooker for his rst test start of the tour with his compatriot Adam Jones again providing the fulcrum at tighthead. Gatland said choosing the team had been difficult and that the head had ruled over the heart in many selection decisions . Weve had a few players coming back from injury, and for quite a few positions as well, between the rst and second tests, they were tossup positions, he added. It was quite a lively meeting we had with the coaches last night in terms of making the nal selection. It was tough, but weve come up with a side we think is good enough to do the job on Saturday. The New Zealander said the team had been picked before Wyn Jones, who played in all three tests on the last Lions tour to South Africa four years ago, was chosen as the best candidate to captain the side. Hopefully, it was about the way I play and not about the way I lead. Its as simple as that, said the 27-year-old lock. I played rst with an eye on getting in the test selection and to be in the position I am in for the nal test is pretty special for me personally, but theres still a job to do.

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Gulf Times Thursday, July 4, 2013

SPORT
FORMULA ONE POWERBOATING

Champion Vettel still searching for elusive home win

I made it to the podium for the first time here and it was a fantastic experience
Reuters Nuerburgring, Germany

A weekend of races for QMSF in Sarasota and Madison

Agencies Sarasota (Florida)

ebastian Vettel has never won his home German Grand Prix or a race in July, so this weeks trip to the Nuerburgring was set to be challenging for the world champion even before last weekends tyre debacle. The exploding Pirellis from the British Grand Prix have Formula One drivers on edge but talk of a boycott in Germany has been played down with the Italian rm saying rear tyres will be made stronger in the short turnaround from Silverstone. While ve drivers including pole sitter Lewis Hamilton suffered blowouts last Sunday, championship leader Vettels retirement was due to a gearbox problem in the usually reliable Red Bull. Adding to the pressure at the Nuerburgring for the 26-year-old, celebrating his birthday on Wednesday, is Mercedes strong performance at Silverstone with Nico Rosberg taking victory and eager to impress again on his and his teams home race. Despite the odds seemingly being against him, Vettel is excited to be returning home. Ive always had a lot of fun on this track. In 2009, I made it to the podium for the rst time (at the Nuerburgring) in Formula 1 and it was a fantastic experience thanks to the German fans, he said in a statement as he discussed never winning in Germany. I dont pay much attention to gures and statistics. It may be nice to look at statistics sometimes, but they only show what has happened in the past, not what is still to come. Vettel, champion the last three years, leads in the driver standings on 132 points from Ferraris Fernando Alonso on 111 and Kimi Raikkonen on 98 in the Lotus. Mercedes have moved up to second in the constructors championship, 48 points behind Red Bull after eight of 19 races. The last race at the Nuerburgring, which alternates with Hockenheim, was in 2011 when Hamilton took the chequered ag and Vettel came fourth.

atars Ali al-Neama and Mohammed alNasser continue their quest for honours in Spirit of Qatar 20 in the competitive Superboat class at this weekend 29th Annual Suncoast Super Boat Grand Prix Festival at Sarasota in Florida. The Qatar duo currently hold fourth in the unofficial points standings behind WHM Motorsports, Team Stihl and JD Byrider, and will be hoping to take a podium nish in Florida, as they gain more seat time together in an American racing environment. Registration and inspections for the fourth round of Super Boat International (SBI) take place on Friday, July 5th in Sarasota and teams will be permitted on to the water for testing on Saturday afternoon. Race one will

start from Lido Beach at 11.00hrs (18.00hrs Qatar time) on Sunday and the second race res into life at 13.00hrs (20.00hrs Qatar time). Capping a hectic weekends racing for the Qatar Marine Sports Federation (QMSF), which runs under the presidency of HE Sheikh Hassan bin Jabor al-Thani, Kip Brown will represent the Spirit of Qatar Team at the Madison Regatta in Indiana at the helm of his Ellstrom Racing hydroplane, Spirit of Qatar 95. Brown nished fourth at the recent H1 Unlimited race in California and will be hoping to reach the podium in a championship where Steve David and Jimmy Shane have made the early running and Shane leads by just 23 points in the National High Points standings after races in Doha and Sacramento. H1 Unlimited qualifying and race heats take place on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, before the nal on Sunday afternoon.

Standings
2013 Super Boat International 1. WHM Motorsports 1615 pts 2. Team Stihl 1472 pts 3. JD Byrider 998 pts 4. Spirit of Qatar 20 787 pts 5. Team CRC 752 pts 6. Ricks Collision 356 pts 7. Warpaint 331 pts 2013 H1 Unlimited Cship (top 5) 1. J Shane (Graham Trucking)3275 2. S David (Oh Boy! Oberto) 3252 3. J Zimmerman (Jones Racing) 2568 4. K Brown (Spirit of Qatar) 2187 5. J. Michael Kelly (Beacon Plumbing) 2070

Red Bulls German driver Sebastian Vettel has never won a race in his country. (EPA) The race was almost handed to Hockenheim before F1 commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone stepped in to make sure it would take place. Drivers thought last Sundays British Grand Prix was too dangerous with bits of exploding tyres narrowly missing their heads, reminding everyone of when Felipe Massa suffered life-threatening injuries when he was struck by debris in 2009. In 2005, 14 drivers did not start the US Grand Prix after problems with their Michelin tyres. Ecclestone does not expect the same to happen in Germany, with kerbs at Silverstone and the teams management of the tyres possibly contributing to the blowouts even if the Pirellis have been controversial all season due to quick degradation. Pirelli risked angering drivers further by saying on Tuesday that the teams had mounted rear tyres the wrong way around and run them with low pressures. I dont think (a boycott) will happen. I dont think its something we need to address, Ecclestone said. The 82-year-old said he would be at the Nuerburgring despite the possible threat of arrest because of allegations he bribed a German banker during the 20052006 sale of a stake in Formula One. Ecclestone denies wrongdoing and Munich prosecutors have not yet indicated if they intended to charge him. Ali al-Neama and Mohammed al-Nasser head to Sarasota in Spirit of Qatar 20 for the Annual Suncoast Super Boat Grand Prix Festival.

Too Dangerous
The German can at least take solace from the fact Red Bull team mate Mark Webber sealed pole at the track two years ago. Australian Webber will be racing in his nal German Grand Prix before quitting F1 at the end of the season and he nearly never had the chance to race the Nuerburgring again with the track in serious nancial difficulty.

GOLF

BOTTOMLINE

Pirelli say tyres are safe if used correctly

DPA Berlin

Montgomerie fails to qualify for British Open

Reuters Gullane, Scotland

ormula One tyre makers Pirelli said Tuesday night they have no intention of causing trouble after indicating that the Silverstone blow-out asco could have been prevented by correct use of the rubbers. Contrary to the impression that some people have formed, I would like to underline the collaboration and support that we are receiving from the teams, drivers, (ruling body) FIA and (F1 management) FOM, Pirelli motorsport chief Paul Hembery said in a statement. In no way are we intending to create arguments or attack anybody. We have taken our responsibilities upon ourselves as our press release indicates. But not having full control over all the elements that impact on the use of the tyres, we need everybodys contribution. With regard to this, we are receiving the full support of all the parties involved, for which we are very grateful. Sundays British Grand Prix saw the left rear tyres of Lewis Hamilton, Felipe Massa, Jean-Eric Vergne and Sergio Perez explode, and race director Charlie Whiting said he had toyed with stopping the race for safety reasons. The incidents were named unacceptable by Hamilton and others, and the FIA acted swiftly by allowing Pirelli to conduct in-season testing with 2013 cars and drivers over the next weeks.

Pirelli partly blamed the teams when it named four factors that led to the Silverstone incidents in another statement from Tuesday night: Rear tyres that were mounted the wrong way round ... the use of tyre pressures that were excessively low or in any case lower than those indicated by Pirelli ... the use of extreme camber angles ... kerbing that was particularly aggressive on fast corners, were the reasons given. Pirelli acknowledged they were partly to blame because they did not outright forbid incorrect mounting of tyres, in which teams used the right hand tyre on the left and vice versa although they have an asymmetric structure. They said they also asked the FIA to ensure that tyre pressure guidelines are observed, and insisted that the earlyseason delamination problem has been solved and was no factor at Silverstone. Pirelli would also like to underline that the 2013 tyre range does not compromise driver safety in any way if used in the correct manner, and that it meets all the safety standards requested by the FIA, Pirelli said. Pirelli also conrmed they would use modied tyres - originally already to be introduced at last months race in Canada - for Sundays German Grand Prix at the Nuerburgring, and a new range of tyres - with the structure, construction and belt of 2012, and 2013 compounds - from the following Hungarian GP on July 28 onwards.

ormer world number two Colin Montgomerie blew his chance of taking part in this months British Open after a second-round 76 left him three over par in qualifying on Tuesday. The 2010 European Ryder Cup captain was one shot off the lead after an opening-round 69 during Local Final Qualifying at Gullane in Scotland before a round of 76, featuring four bogeys and a double bogey, saw him miss out by four strokes. I got to ve under and threw it away - never mind, the 50-year-old Scot said in a news release. Its not my schedule. I just played badly this afternoon. I didnt get going at all. Montgomerie, who won a record eight order of merit titles on the European Tour between

1993 and 2005, has never won a major despite several close calls with ve runner-up spots among a total of 10 top-10 nishes. There were three qualifying spots up for grabs at Gullane with amateurs Ben Stow and Matthew Fitzpatrick joining Swedens Oscar Floren in securing their places at the July 18-21 major at Muireld. At the qualifying event at The Musselburgh, Steven Tiley dominated the eld to win by three shots to book his berth along with Scot Lloyd Saltman and Tyrrell Hatton. At Dunbar, amateur Grant Forrest shot 67 and 65 for an eight-under-par aggregate and was joined in The Open eld by Indian Shiv Kapur and Australian John Wade, who nished a stroke behind. In the event at North Berwick, amateur Jimmy Mullen, Gareth Wright and George Murray took the coveted qualifying places.

The punctured tyre from Felipe Massas Ferrari is seen during Sundays British Grand Prix at the Silverstone Race circuit.

Gulf Times Thursday, July 4, 2013

53

SPORT
OLYMPICS

2020 candidates out to impress IOC members

AFP Lausanne

he three cities bidding for the right to host the 2020 Summer Olympics had the rst of their two presentations to the electorate who will decide their fate, the International Olympic Committee, in Lausanne yesterday. While none of the three - Istanbul, Madrid and Tokyo - can win or suffer a fatal blow at the technical presentation, it does give them an ideal opportunity to soothe the IOC members doubts or fears emanating from either last weeks Evaluation Commission Report or recent events within their respective countries. The decisive vote comes on September 7 in Buenos Aires. The 2020 Games bid teams from

Istanbul, Madrid and Tokyo will approach their presentations on Wednesday all in relatively good heart, emboldened by positive assessments by the Evaluation Commission. Istanbul in particular will be keen their message about being a bridge to different cultures, religions and generations returns to centre stage after an uncomfortable period when mass street protests in Turkey threatened to destabilise the bid. Their youthful delegation, reecting one of the thrusts of their bid focussed on a legacy for the youth of the country, is headed by 46-year-old Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan, who is in charge of the governments economy policies. Madrid - whose delegation will be led by Crown Prince Felipe the heir to the Spanish throne - will have an

even greater spring in their step following the Evaluation Commissions decision to give them the thumbs up over their relatively modest planned budget. The commission said they were condent that the modest budget of 2.37bn euros ($3.10bn, 2.01bn) for fullling the remaining building work was feasible. As the additional investment required to deliver the Games is relatively modest, the Commission believes that Spanish economy should be able to support the delivery of the Games, read the report. Madrid are very much a live candidate to win the right to host the Games, one IOC source told AFP. They have 28 of the 35 venues built, the infrastructure is in place and they are running an effective campaign, the source added. Tokyo, the only one of the three to

have previously hosted the Games in 1964, still appear to be the favourites after a glowing report from the Commission but question marks remain over whether their campaign has sufficiently impressed the members. The report, though, lauded their plans. Tokyo - who will have Deputy Prime Minister and former Olympic shooter Taro Aso among the delegation - intends to use the power of sport to offer hope to the Japanese people and promote national spirit, unity and condence, in particular after the massive 2011 earthquake and tsunami, the report said. On the fear of more natural disasters in Japan, the IOC report said the Tokyo bidders had ensured that robust anti-quake construction standards and necessary anti-tsunami safety measures were in place.

Tsunekazu Takeda (left), president of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Bid, and Taro Aso, Japans Deputy Prime Minister, attend the 2020 Candidate Cities Briefing in Lausanne yesterday. (EPA)

DRAG RACING

Francis runs 10.17 secs

Al-Anabi improve in first half this NHRA season

I would give our team an A for the first half of the season
Qatars Samuel Francis raced to a 10.17 second finish in the 100m heats at the Asian Athletics Championships in Pune, India, yesterday to qualify for semi-finals.

ATHLETICS

Injury-free Gay ready to beat Bolt

Agencies Lausanne

yson Gay is nally injury-free and says he has no excuses for not beating Usain

Bolt. The fastest man in the world this year, Gay acknowledged his frustration yesterday at dealing with hip, groin and hamstring pain while Bolt piled up world records and gold medals. It just was maddening for so long, said the American, who won sprint double gold at the 2007 world championships before Bolt started dominating the following year. Its nally over and done with, Gay said on the eve of the Athletissima Diamond League meeting today. I have no excuses, I have no pain. I feel good. I am over the mental part of being injured,

said the sprinter whose 31st birthday next month falls on the eve of the World Championship opening in Moscow. Now Gay wants Bolt, who skips Athletissima to run a 200 in Paris on Saturday, to arrive in Russia in the same great shape. Double Olympic silver medalist Yohan Blake is the actual world champion at 100 - after Bolt famously false-started in Daegu, South Korea - though the Jamaican No. 2 has had a hamstring injury since April. I hope Usain stays healthy and may the best man win, Gay said. Its no secret that this guy is a championship performer and you have to bring your A game to beat him, or better than your A game. Gay showed his readiness by winning the 100 and 200 meters at the US championships last month, clocking worldleading times of 9.75 and 19.74 seconds, respectively.

Al-Anabi Top Fuel driver Khalid al-Balooshi does a burnout prior to his second-round race at last weekends OReilly Auto Parts Route 66 NHRA Nationals near Chicago.
Agencies Norwalk, Ohio

Saif goes down against Hong Kongs Fung

Qatars first professional snooker player Ahmed Saif suffered a defeat at the hands of Hong Kongs Kwok Wai Fung in the first match of round of 64 at the 4th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Incheon, South Korea, yesterday. Saif, who turned professional in May this year after going through the Q-School in Sheffield, England, lost to Fung 1-4 in the best-of-seven tie. Fung blanked Saif in the first frame 70-0 before putting up a fight in the second and third frames. Saif put up an impressive game in the fourth frame to pull back one with 61-8 score. Fung, however, won the fifth frame 63-7 to advance to the next round.

ith the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season now halfway complete, the Qatar Al-Anabi Racing Top Fuel team, the two-time World Championship team owned by HE Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad al-Thani, is in a far better position than it was one year ago. This weekends seventh annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals is the 13th of 24 races making up the United States 2013 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season, and it begins the second half of the drag racing calendar. Qualifying is Friday and Saturday with eliminations set for Sunday. The gold Al-Anabi team and driver Khalid al-Balooshi have made huge strides since this time last year. At the mid-point of the 2012 season, al-Balooshis rookie year, the Dubai driver was 13th in the NHRA Mello Yello Top Fuel point stand-

ings with 371 points, and he had not yet won a single round of racing during eliminations as he made a very difficult transition from being a Pro Mod driver to a Top Fuel pilot. Now, at the middle of the 2013 season, al-Balooshi is sixth in points with 657 points, an increase of 286 points. He has won 12 elimination rounds, has a second-place nish and two seminal appearances. Last year, al-Balooshi won his 12th round at the seasons 22nd of 23 races. I would give our team an A for the rst half of the season because of how hard everyone is working and how much better we are, al-Balooshi said. The changes we have made in our engine and in our clutch do not happen fast. It takes time, and I know that all of the hard work will make our team better. (Crew chief) Jason (McCulloch) and everyone on our crew are doing their best to learn how to run our car with our new engine and clutch setup. From the time I started Top Fuel after driving Pro Mod, everything has been different. The biggest thing for me is seat

time; seat time is everything. When you get more seat time, things come around easier. Our team goal is for every crew guy, the crew chief and the driver to do the best we can do every time we run the car. There is no need to keep thinking about one thing to do on every run. The goal for our team is to do the best we can do every time. I am excited about the second half of the season.

Weve done very well in the first half of the year, but in drag racing, theres always room for improvement. Thats our goal for the next couple of races improve on what we have tried to accomplish in the first half of the year and get this Al-Anabi car prepared for the Countdown, Langdon said
The silver Al-Anabi team and driver Shawn Langdon have made similar improvements. At the middle of the 2012 season, Langdon was seventh in points

with 616 points. He had one No. 1 qualier, three semi-nal appearances, no nal rounds and no wins. This year, Langdon is second in points with 936 points, an increase of 320 points. He has three No. 1 qualiers, one seminal, six nal-round appearances and three wins. If we had a report card on the rst half of the season, I would give the Al-Anabi team an A-minus, Langdon said. Weve done very well in the rst half of the year, but in drag racing, theres always room for improvement. Thats our goal for the next couple of races improve on what we have tried to accomplish in the rst half of the year and get this Al-Anabi car prepared for the Countdown (to the Championship NHRA Playoffs). We are halfway through the season, we have been to the nal round at half of the races, and weve won half of the nal rounds weve raced in so we just have to keep plugging away at it and keep trying to get a little bit better every time the Al-Anabi car goes down the race track.

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Gulf Times Thursday, July 4, 2013

FOOTBALL
SPOTLIGHT

Blanc says would love to see Cavani sign for PSG

Reuters Paris

aris St Germain (PSG) coach Laurent Blanc would be delighted if Uruguay international Edinson Cavani joined the French champions as they seek a defender, midelder and striker. Napolis Cavani, top scorer in Serie A last season, has been linked to a host of top European clubs with local media reporting that Qatari-backed PSG have made an offer of up to 63 million euros ($82.12 million) for the 26-year-old. I love this player, Blanc told a news conference yesterday. I have seen him play several

times with Uruguay and Napoli. I would be very happy should he be in the PSG squad next season. Former France coach Blanc, who joined PSG last week to replace Carlo Ancelotti, wants to strengthen the team having been asked to do better than last season in Europe. Under Ancelotti, who left to take charge of Real Madrid, PSG won their rst domestic title since 1994 and reached the Champions League quarternals where they went out on away goals to Barcelona after two draws. Blanc said he wanted to bring in a left back, with former Barca defender Eric Abidal and Lilles French prospect Lucas Digne topping the wish list. Its hard not to like Eric Abi-

dal. But we have to talk about it with the president and (sporting director) Leonardo. I am, we are, interested in both players, he said. The mideld will also be strengthened because there will denitely be some departures, added Blanc. The new coach, who met some of the players for the rst time on Monday, also denied media reports that Brazil centre back Thiago Silva was willing to leave the club. I talked to him on the phone yesterday and I can tell you that he will a PSG player next season, Blanc said. We are preparing a specic training programme for him. I had the feeling that he was very focused on next season. Blanc took over at the Qatariowned French champions last

month when Carlo Ancelotti moved to Real Madrid to replace Chelsea-bound Jose Mourinho. The former Bordeaux and France manager spelled out his and the club owners objectives after holding a training session, the 47-year-old elling reporters: The aim is to do as well as last year, if not better. This is an ambitious but logical objective, logical because we are in the process of progressing. As well as claiming the French league title PSG made it through to the Champions League quarternals where they came unstuck against Barcelona. Today, Blancs squad leave for a one week pre-season training camp in Austria.

Paris Saint-Germain newly appointed coach Laurent Blanc looks at his players during a training session in Clairefontaine-en-Yvelines, outside Paris yesterday. (AFP)

PRESENTATION

WAGE DISPUTE

Isco hopes signing for Real will boost World Cup chances
I had offers from other clubs in Europe, but it is impossible to say no to Real Madrid
Reuters Madrid

Barrios accuses Chinese club in contract row

AFP Berlin

eal Madrids rst signing of the Carlo Ancelotti era, Isco, said he hoped joining the nine-time European champions would boost his chances of making the Spain squad for next years World Cup nals. The Spanish Under-21 playmaker, who was joined from Malaga for some 30 million Euros, completed a medical and signed a ve-year contract before being presented in front of around 5000 cheering fans at a sun-soaked Bernabeu yesterday. Its a great opportunity that is always in your head, and if I do things well here, I might have an opportunity to be in Brazil, Isco, who will wear the number 23 shirt, told a news conference. Isco, 21, helped Malaga to a club best fourth-placed nish in La Liga two years ago and to the Champions League quarter-nals last season in their debut campaign. He caught the eye with a series of impressive performances in the European Under 21-championships in Israel last month, scoring a penalty in Spains 4-2 nal victory over Italy. The talented midelder was voted by coaches the revelation player of La Liga two years ago and he won the Golden Boy trophy as the best Under-21 player in Europe in 2012. He debuted with the Spains full national team in a friendly against Uruguay in February and is one of the popular choices to make the step up into Vicente del Bosques side after their Confederations Cup nal defeat to Brazil last weekend. Isco was also a target for Manchester City and their new coach Manuel Pellegrini who worked with him at Malaga the last two seasons. I had offers from other clubs in Europe, but it is impossible to say no to Real Madrid, Isco added, when asked why he reportedly changed his mind from signing for City to join Real. I couldnt let the opportunity pass me by. Isco will have to ght for a place in the Real starting line up but he was unperturbed. I have a lot of condence that I will be able win myself a place here, he said. No

ormer Borussia Dortmund striker Lucas Barrios has accused Guangzhou Evergrande of failing to pay his full salary in the latest high-prole wage dispute involving a star foreign player in the Chinese Super League. The Paraguay international is embroiled in a heated contract row with the superrich club, drawing parallels with former Chelsea star Didier Drogbas tumultuous exit from Shanghai Shenhua. Barrios angered the league champions and current league leaders when he ew home for a match against Chile which took place in early June and did not return to China until last Friday. The forward was recently linked with a move back to the Bundesliga with Werder Bremen. Last month, media reports in Germany and Argentina suggesting Barrios had asked football governing body FIFA to terminate his contract as Evergrande had defaulted on payments drew a furious response from the club. It was utterly ridiculous. The club made every payment clear and on time, a club ofcial previously told state news agency Xinhua, adding that neither Barrios nor his agent had contacted the club during the players absence. Evergrande, managed by former Italian World Cup-winning coach Marcello Lippi, have approached FIFA, demanding 25 million euros ($32.5 million) in compensation, Xinhua said. But the 28-year-old has vented his fury against the club in a strongly worded letter seen on his website yesterday. He said he had suffered nancial loss and

accused the club of depriving me of a substantial amount of the overall remuneration agreed upon in the contract . I will continue my career at another club that is interested in my sports performance, he added. Evergrande, who could not be reached for comment by AFP, paid a reported $11 million transfer fee last summer to sign Barrios. He has since scored ve league goals. Guangzhou Evergrande have poured millions into signing some of the biggest stars playing in Asia, including Argentine Dario Conca and Brazilians Elkeson and Muriqui. It has not previously faced allegations of wage defaults. Chinese media reported last year that Drogba had asked FIFA to nullify his contract with Shenhua after the club reportedly defaulted on payments following a shareholder dispute. Shanghai said the Ivory Coast internationals move to Turkish side Galatasaray in February was a breach of contract. Meanwhile Dortmund began their pre-season training with Gabon striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang set to join from French Cup winners Saint Etienne. Dortmunds director Michael Zorc has been in France since Monday and conrmed they are in talks with the 24-year-old, who scored 19 goals and created 14 assists as Saint Etienne nished fth in the French league last season. We are condent it will happen quickly, Zorc told the Ruhr Nachrichten newspaper. Aubameyang is reported to be set to sign a 5-year deal, for a cost of 13 million euros and would be Dortmunds second new signing after Greek defender Sokratis, who cost 9.5 million euros from Werder Bremen.

Sunderland sign Mannone

Sunderland yesterday announced the signing of Italian goalkeeper Vito Mannone from Premier League rivals Arsenal. The 25-year-old, a former Italy under-21 international, has signed a two-year contract at the Stadium of Light and cost Sunderland an undisclosed transfer fee reported to be around 2 million ($3.1 million, 2.4 million euros). Sunderland sold first-choice goalkeeper Simon Mignolet to Liverpool last month and Mannone is expected to provide cover for Republic of Ireland international Keiren Westwood. Sunderland manager Paolo Di Canio has already been busy in the transfer window, with Valentin Roberge, Modibo Diakite, Cabral, David Moberg Karlsson and Duncan Watmore having all joined the club since the end of last season.

Real Madrids new player Francisco Roman Alarcon Isco poses during his official presentation at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid yesterday. The Spanish star has joined Real Madrid from Malaga on a five-year deal. (AFP) one will gift me minutes but I hope with hard work I will carve myself a niche. There has been much speculation in the local media that Isco is a fan of Reals arch-rivals Barcelona, fuelled by the fact he has a pet dog called Messi, named after Barcas World Player of the Year. While he juggled the ball on the pitch at the Bernabeu, fans chanted for him to kiss the Real badge, which he failed to do, and he deftly sidestepped the question in the news conference. Its true I have been a Malaga fan, now I am the biggest Madrid fan there is. I will give my all for this shirt, he said. When asked about his dog, he replied to much laughter: Yes. But I also had one called (Luis) Figo. It is nothing more than an anecdote. Former Portugal international Figo played for Barcelona and Real.

ALL STARS AFFAIR

Premier League good for England, says Scudamore

Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore has defended the organisation against claims Englands leading clubs are partly responsible for recent poor performances by the national teams age-group sides. Englands under-21s were eliminated from the European Championship in Israel last month after losing every game, while the under-20 side were unable to record a single victory at the World Cup. However, Scudamore says claims that home-grown youngsters are being crowded out by foreign players in the English top flight are wide of the mark. You know how Im going to respond to thatthats nonsense, absolute nonsense, he said. There were 210 players qualified to play for England playing in the Premier League last year, and, by the way, theyre all (actually) playing in the Premier League. And we ought to be able to find 11 to take the field to do well. Those players are playing week in, week out against the worlds best talent. Our responsibility is to make sure the youth-development systems in this country are as good as they can be. That huge investment, 320 million ($487 million, 376 million euros), in the elite performance plan is starting to see results. Were starting to see more English-qualified people coming through the academies, were starting to see more take part in first teams. Our youth-development systems are beginning to work even better than theyve worked in the past. All we can do is be responsible for some of the input. Clearly, our responsibility ends once those players go off and are selected. Scudamore was speaking on Tuesday at the launch of a 16.8 million joint-funding scheme between the Premier League and Sport England, aimed at increasing youth participation in sport.

Argentinas Messi (right) and Brazils Neymar shake hands before an exhibition soccer match Giants Duel: Messi and Friends vs Rest of the World at the National Stadium in Lima on Tuesday. (AFP)

Gulf Times Thursday, July 4, 2013

55

SPORT
PAK TEAM FOR WI CYCLING/ TOUR DE FRANCE INDIA vs SRI LANKA

Afridi in; Kamran, Malik out

AFP Karachi

akistan axed former captain Shoaib Malik, wicketkeeper-batsman Kamran Akmal and opener Imran Farhat for this months limited-overs series in the West Indies, but included dashing all-rounder Shahid Afridi in the team yesterday. Selectors made four changes in the ODI squad which crashed out of last months eight-nation Champions Trophy in England, losing all three games due to sloppy batting.

Cavendish wins stage; Gerrans retains yellow

'I am super happy. Now the pressures kind of off for me'

Tharanga hits 174 as SL thrash India

AFP Kingston

SCOREBOARD
Sri Lanka
U Tharanga (not out)...............................174 M Jayawardene c Yadav b Ashwin ...107 A Mathews (not out) ................................44 Extras (b-1, lb-6, w-16) .............................23 Total (1 wicket, 50 overs) .......................... 348 Fall of wicket: 1-213 (Jayawardene) Bowling: Ahmed 10-0-68-0 (3w), Yadav 8-0-65-0 (3w), I Sharma 9-0-68-0 (1w), Jadeja 9-0-55-0, Ashwin 10-0-66-1 (4w), Kohli 2-0-9-0, Raina 2-0-10-0 (1w)

All-rounder Shahid Afridi makes a return after being dropped twice in the last six months. Malik managed just 25 runs in the three matches, Kamran scored 23 in the same number of games, and Farhat scored four in two. Pakistan failed to cross the 170-mark in any of their games. Pakistan will play ve Onedayers and two Twenty20 internationals in the Caribbean, with the rst One-day match in Guyana on July 14. Misbah-ul Haq will lead the One-day team while Mohammad Hafeez will skipper the Twenty20 side. Afridi was dropped from the One-day squad twice in the last six months after he failed to impress with both bat and ball. He was rst discarded for the Oneday leg of the India tour in January before making a comeback on the South Africa tour, but was left out again for the Champions Trophy. Afridi has not taken a single wicket in his last six ODIs. Also back in the One-day team is Kamrans younger brother Umar, who will also keep wickets. Uncapped Mohammad Rizwan, 21, is the other keeper in the team. Opener Ahmed Shahzad also staged a comeback after being left out two years ago. Paceman Umar Gul remains sidelined after undergoing knee surgery in May.

pul Tharanga plundered the highest individual score in a oneday international (ODI) in the Caribbean as Sri Lanka steamrollered India by 161 runs in the third match of the Tri-Series at Sabina Park on Tuesday. Replying to Sri Lankas mammoth 348 for one in their 50 overs, in which Tharanga made an unbeaten 174 and Mahela Jayawardene 107, World Cup and Champions Trophy holders India were dismissed for just 187 in the 45th over. It was a bad day at the office, admitted Indias stand-in captain Virat Kohli. We took some time to switch on in the eld and by then the Sri Lankans were off and away, and even when we batted I dont think we applied ourselves as well as we should have.

India
R Sharma c Mathews b Kulasekara ..5 S Dhawan c Tharanga b Herath .........24 M Vijay b Malinga......................................30 V Kohli c Malinga b Mathews ..............2 D Karthik st Sangakkara b Herath ....22 S Raina (run out)........................................33 R Jadeja (not out)......................................49 R Ashwin c Malinga b Senanayake ...4 S Ahmed b Senanayake .........................0 I Sharma c Sangakkara b Herath .......2 U Yadav b Malinga ....................................0 Extras (lb-4, w-12) .....................................16 Total (all out, 44.5 overs) ......................187 Fall of wickets: 1-12 (R Sharma), 2-52 (Dhawan), 3-57 (Kohli), 4-65 (Vijay), 5-118 (Karthik), 6-142 (Raina), 7-153 (Ashwin), 8-153 (Ahmed), 9-166 (I Sharma), 10-187 (Yadav) Bowling: Kulasekara 9-0-37-1, Mathews 8-2-23-1, Senanayake 10-0-46-2 (2w), Herath 10-0-37-3, Malinga 7.5-0-40-2 (1w)

Britains Mark Cavendish celebrates as he crosses the finish line at the end of the 228.5-km fifth stage of the 100th edition of the Tour de France cycling race between Cagnes-sur-Mer and Marseille, southern France, yesterday. (AFP)
AFP Marseille

NADA CONTACTS ULLRICH AFTER DOPING CONFESSION

Germanys National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) said yesterday it has contacted former Tour de France winner Jan Ullrich in the wake of last months doping confession to find out more details. In an interview with German magazine Focus, Ullrich, 39, who won the 1997 Tour, admitted to doping with the help of jailed Spanish doctor Eufemiano Fuentes, but insisted using no other substance than his own blood. We want to know exactly what it was, said NADA board member Lars Mortsiefer at the presentation of their annual report in Berlin, while adding that NADA was hoping to speak to Ullrich in the next few weeks. After drawing plenty of criticism for his confession, Ullrich has said he was surprised and finds it a pity that my words have caused such a fuss, but Germany was made to wait a long time for his admission. Ullrich was found guilty of a doping offence by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in February 2012 and was retroactively banned from August of that year with all results gained since May 2005 erased. The German was also barred from the 2006 Tour de France amid speculation he had used illegal substances and retired from cycling in February 2007, denying he had ever cheated.

Sri Lankan opener Upul Tharanga pulls one to the fence during his unbeaten knock of 174 against India on Tuesday. (AFP)

LIFE BAN

I've been victimised: Kaneria

AFP Karachi

ormer Pakistan legspinner Danish Kaneria said yesterday he was disgusted by Englands decision to uphold his life ban for spot-xing, and claimed he was being victimised. An appeal panel of the England and Wales Cricket Board discipline commission upheld the ban in full on Tuesday, the second time Kaneria has lost an appeal against ECB charges. The 32-year-old was handed a life ban by the ECB last year after a panel found him guilty of inducing his then Essex teammate Mervyn Westeld to deliberately under-perform by agreeing to concede a certain number of runs in return for money while bowling in a county match in 2009. After Kanerias rst appeal was rejected in April he had asked for the ban to be reduced. The ban effectively prevents him from playing all international and domestic cricket worldwide as boards under ICC jurisdiction have agreed to uphold punishments imposed by individual countries in such circumstances. I am deeply disappointed and disgusted with the decision, Kaneria said. I have been victimised in this case and Westeld got his ban relaxed. Kaneria, only the second player from the Hindu community to play for Pakistan, said he feels abandoned. I feel alone and at times I feel that because I am from a minority, people dont support me," he added. Before his ban, Kaneria was the highest wicket-taking spinner for Pakistan with 261 wickets from 61 Tests.

ritains Mark Cavendish won a crash-marred fth stage of the Tour de France yesterday as Australian Simon Gerrans retained the race leaders yellow jersey. Cavendish, of the Omega-Pharma team, nished over a bike length ahead of Edvald Boasson Hagen (Sky) and Slovakian Peter Sagan (Cannondale) in a reduced bunch sprint after they had avoided a crash inside the nal kilometre. It was the Isle of Man riders 24th stage win on the race. "Im super happy. Now the pressures kind of off for me and hopefully it has started the ball rolling," Cavendish said. On what was the second-longest stage (228.5 kilometres) of the 100th edition the peloton gave the green light to an early sixman breakaway which formed in the opening kilometres after Belgian Thomas De Gendt had gone on the attack. By the 37km mark they had built a maximum lead of nearly 13 minutes on the main peloton, which only really decided to start the chase with a little over 100km remaining. With Gerrans in the race leaders yellow jersey, Orica-GreenEdge spent long spells leading the bunch but with a stage win on a at home straight up for grabs the other teams with top sprinters soon began sending riders to the front to boost the chase. Sixty kilometres from the nish the lead had halved to just over six minutes and 10km further on the lead group was split in two as

GOODBYE

Kiwi fast bowler Martin retires

Reuters Wellington

De Gendt, Yukiya Arashiro and Alexey Lutsenko a former under-23 world champion who is making his race debut with Astana left their companions behind. Not wanting to miss out on contending a possible stage win, Arashiros Europcar teammate Kevin Reza, also a race debutant, dug deep to bridge the gap. The quartets lead over the main bunch, however, had been trimmed to 5:05 with 40km to race as riders from Argos, Lotto, and Omega-Pharma joined Orica in the hunt. Attempts to pull clear at the front by Reza and then Arashiro came to nothing and despite a tough headwind on the Gineste climb the escapees appeared to have little chance of keeping the pack at bay. It was on the Gineste, whose summit was

12 km from the nish, that a crash in the chasing bunch took down around a dozen riders. The incident left no visible casualties but delayed a number of riders including German Marcel Kittel, the winner of stage one, and Oricas main sprinter Matt Goss. The main peloton crested the summit only 19secs in arrears and despite Lutsenko taking Reza with him with an ambitious attack the pair were reeled in in succession with 4km to go. The Lotto team of German sprinter Andre Greipel took command of the race inside the nal kilometre after a crash further behind had stopped much of the peloton in its tracks. Greipel, however, could only nish fth as Cavendish made his move inside the nal 250 metres to claim his rst win of this years race.

ADMISSION

Pak cricket at lowest point: PCB chief

Reuters Karachi

ew Zealand fast bowler Chris Martin, the third highest wicket-taker for the country in Tests, has retired from all forms of cricket at the age of 38. The right-arm seamer, who made his debut for the Black Caps in 2000 against Saouth Africa, picked up 233 wickets from 71 Tests to sit behind Richard Hadlee (431) and Daniel Vettori (360) on the list of New Zealands most successful test bowlers. It feels like the right time to step down, Martin said in a New Zealand Cricket statement yesterday. I have loved every second and given it everything when playing for the Black Caps, but after 15 years of professional cricket, its time to pursue a new challenge.

akistan cricket has reached its lowest point due to a string of scandals involving players cheating, teams not touring the country and court cases, Pakistan Cricket Board interim chief Najam Sethi said. The way I see it Pakistan cricket is at the lowest ebb, we are not winning, our cricketers and umpires are embroiled in cheating scandals, teams dont want to tour Pakistan because of security issues, things were never this bad, Sethi told reporters in Karachi after attending the ICC meetings in London. Sethi, a journalist and political analyst, was appointed by the government to head the PCB last month after the Islamabad high court stopped Zaka Ashraf from working as chairman of the board on a constitutional writ petition which challenged his election in May. The board is also facing number of court

petitions from its affiliated regional units over the election process in which Ashraf became the rst elected board chairman. Sethi said that Pakistan cricket needed to take radical steps to avert a crisis. I am going to address all these issues rst and foremost the team needs to start doing well again and we need to clean up our cricket as we have been embarrassed enough, he said. Since 2010 when the spot xing scandal broke out on the tour to England four Paki-

stan cricketers have been found guilty and banned, including former captain Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Amir and Danish Kaneria. Test umpire Nadeem Ghouri was also banned for four years in April on corruption charges. No foreign team has toured Pakistan since 2009 when militants attacked a Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore in which six Pakistani policemen and a van driver were killed and members of the touring side wounded. As far as international teams coming to Pakistan is concerned that will only happen when the security situation improves, Sethi said. The truth is no one wants to play in Pakistan in existing circumstances and we need to give teams iron clad guarantees on security to even bring representative teams to the country. On the pitch, Pakistan have struggled for form this year. They were whitewashed in a test series in South Africa and then lost all three group matches in last months Champions Trophy in England.

I have loved every second and given it everything when playing for the Black Caps, but after 15 years of professional cricket, its time to pursue a new challenge"
Martin, who also picked up 18 wickets in 20 One-day internationals, played his last Test against South Africa in January. Not one to rely on pure speed, Martins tight line and length made life difficult for top-order batsmen in conditions which assisted swing bowling. His best bowling came against South Africa in 2004 when he won the man-of-thematch award for his haul of 11 wickets in an Auckland Test. He picked up ve-wicket hauls on 10 occasions in Tests. The way Chris goes about his business both on and off the eld has made him one of the most respected players in

Chris Martin bowed out as the third highest Test wicket-taker in New Zealand history. Martin played 71 Tests over an international career spanning more than 12 years, claiming 233 wickets at 33.81. (AFP) the changing room, New Zealand coach Mike Hesson said. With over 200 Test wickets, his stats speak for themselves, but his knowledge and experience make his presence in the group so important. Hes been a great role model for younger teammates and will be sorely missed. We wish him all the best for the future. Martins comical batting statistics also made him a crowd favourite whenever he walked out with his pads on. He has the most number of ducks (36) behind West Indies Courtney Walsh (43) and tops the list of most pairs (dismissed without scoring in both innings) in a career with seven.

BASEBALL | Page 51

CYCLING | Page 55 CYCL

FOOTBALL | Page 54

Surging Indians edge Royals to AL Central lead

Cavendish wins stage; Gerrans retains yellow

FORMULA ONE

Isco hopes signing for Real will boost W Cup chances

Thursday, July 4, 2013 Shabaan 25, 1434 AH

GULF TIMES

Champion Vettel still searching for elusive home win

Page 52

SPORT
TENNIS / WIMBELDON

PREVIEW

Murray rallies past Verdasco into semi-finals

Djokovic imperious, courageous Del Potro powers on

Wimbledon to get an uncrowned queen

DPA London

ourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska will take the lessons learned as a 2012 Wimbledon womens nalist into todays semi-nal against Sabine Lisicki, another players who relies on previous top-level experience on the grass. The second semi features 2007 nalist Marion Bartoli, seeded 15th, playing Belgian outsider Kristen Flipkens. Whatever the case, there will be a new womens champion at this years edition. Radwanska said that her loss 12 months ago to Serena Williams gave her experience which she hopes to put to use in her bid for a second nal as she takes a 1-1 record into the contest with Lisicki, a 2011 seminalist at the All England club.

ate every single moment out there a lot more. I dont let anybody take that away from me. Being on crutches, you cant carry anything, you need the help of somebody else. To come back on the court to compete and then to go even further than I did before the injury gives you a lot of strength. Its a different feeling when Im out there now. Bartolis grass form only started to come good at Wimbledon after withdrawing from tune-up events in Birmingham and Eastbourne. But I was still in the back of my head thinking I could do well in here. When Im back at Wimbledon I have a smile on my face. Tennis is kind of a crazy game, and now I am playing Kirsten Flipkens to be in the nal of Wimbledon. So its also very unexpected, but thats also the magic of it.

Vs

Radwanska DESPERATE MEASURES: Britains Andy Murray dives to make a return against Spains Fernando Verdasco during their mens singles quarter-final match on day nine of the 2013 Wimbledon Championships tennis tournament at the All England Club in Wimbledon, southwest London. (AFP)
Reuters London

Lisicki

ndy Murray put the home fans through the wringer as he came back from two sets down to book a place in the Wimbledon semi-nals with an edgy 4-6 3-6 6-1 6-4 7-5 win over unseeded Spaniard Fernando Verdasco yesterday. Murrays hopes of ending Britains 77-year wait for a mens Wimbledon champion were on the verge of being shredded as he found himself playing catch-up while looking jaded and uncomfortable on court. The 54th-ranked Verdasco put pressure on Murrays vulnerable second serve and came up with a series of rasping winners to force the US Open champion deeper behind the baseline. Yet with the match slipping out of his grasp, Murray muscled his way back into the encounter, taking the third and fourth sets as Verdascos level dropped and then grabbed a decisive break in the 11th game of the fth. He wrapped up the match after three hours and 27 minutes when Verdasco sent a forehand long. Murray, who has now reached ve successive Wimbledon semi-nals, will face Jerzy Janowicz in the last four. Earlier, an imperious Novak Djokovic proved unstoppable and courageous Juan Martin Del Potro indomitable as both claimed straight-sets victories yesterday to set up a Wimbledon semi-nal clash. Top seed Djokovic reeled off his fth successive three-set victory although his quarter-nal against Czech seventh seed Tomas Berdych was harder than the 7-6(5) 6-4 6-3

and a pain-killing tablet produced a sledgehammer-like performance to beat fourth seed David Ferrer 6-2 6-4 7-6(5). Such was the venom in his murderous forehand that any injury concerns were put aside as he struck 22 winners on that ank alone, including a screamer on match point. It was the same thing as my third-round match, said Del Potro, who rst injured his knee when falling on Saturday against Grega Zemlja. I was very close (to pulling out) because I felt a lot of pain in the beginning of the match, it was exactly the same like I did before. I twisted my knee once again and the doctor gave me some magic pills and I could nish the match. Del Potros medical team will work overtime to patch him up for a seminal against world No.1 Novak Djokovic tomorrow. I think its going to be dangerous if Im not careful in the next few days, he said.

Vs

Bartoli The biggest pressure for me is in the rst week, said Radwanska. I think the quarter-nals are a minimum target, especially when you are seeded. Now Im just more relaxed: I think semi-nal, its already a great result. Being in a grand slam nal is very good experience. I know how it is, what I have to do to be in the nal again. It helps, for sure, that its not the rst time. Lisicki made her rst semi-nal a year after an ankle injury in spring, 2010, which took ve months to heal due to botched treatment by American doctors for what should have been a six-week episode. The German has made friends with her beaming smile alone, and could not help but let her emotions run free after knocking out Williams in the fourth round before dispatching Kaia Kanepi. I know how it is to be in the semis, its a different atmosphere. Everything is starting to get empty in the locker room. Im glad Ive had that experience before. But I feel much fresher, tter, better than two years ago. Lisicki, 23, appreciates every moment of her current run after begin forced to re-learn to walk after her ankle problem. That made me appreci-

Flipkens Flipkens, ranked 20th, has never gone so far at a major and remains amazed at what she has done after putting out 2011 winner Petra Kvitova. Support from retired Kim Clijsters in the US is also helping her condence. The Belgian has her own story to tell after missing two months in spring, 2012, as she was diagnosed with serious blood clots in her legs after a ight from Asia. Her ranking dropped to 262 and recovery gave her a more balanced take of life and tennis. Maybe I start to know whats important in life, said the bespectacled player. I think winning or losing a tennis match doesnt make a big difference. I mean, if you lose, you have a next tournament next week, so ... I just start to see things in perspective. Flipkens called herself the most surprising name in the last four, but I dont really care, to be honest, at this moment. Im really satised with the last two weeks. I cannot tell you in words how happy I am. I dont really care who the other three are. Im just playing match by match. It worked the last 10 days, so Ill keep on doing it.

RESULTS
FINE SHOW: Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates after defeating Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic in their mens quarter-final tennis match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships, in London. (Reuters) scoreline suggested. Untroubled so far as he targets a second Wimbledon title, the clinical Serb had to nd his best tennis to subdue Berdych who beat Djokovic in their only previous grasscourt meeting. It was a very close match, and thats what I expected, Djokovic, who lost to Del Potro in an Olympic bronze-medal match at Wimbledon last year, told a news conference. Tomas is a very powerful player. We went toe-to-toe in the rst set. Del Potro looked down and out after ve points against Ferrer when his already-bandaged left knee crumpled as he tumbled while chasing a wide ball behind the baseline. Grimacing in pain the six foot six eighth seed climbed up from the turf, however, and after treatment
Mens singles Quarter finals: Novak Djokovic (SRB x1) bt Tomas Berdych (CZE x7) 7-6 (7/5), 6-4, 6-3 Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG x8) bt David Ferrer (ESP x4) 6-2, 6-4, 7-6 (7/5); Jerzy Janowicz (POL x24) bt Lukasz Kubot (POL) 7-5, 6-4, 6-4; Andy Murray (GBR x2) bt Fernando Verdasco (ESP) 4-6, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, 7-5; Mens doubles Quarter finals: Ivan Dodig/Marcelo Melo (CRO/BRA x12) bt James Blake/Jurgen Melzer (USA/AUT) 7-5, 6-0, 6-7 (0/7), 6-4; Womens doubles: Quarter finals: Hsieh Su-Wei/Peng Shuai (TPE/CHN x8) bt Jelena Jankovic/Mirjana Lucic (SRB/CRO) 6-4, 7-5; Anna-Lena Groenefeld/Kveta Peschke (GER/CZE x7) bt Nadia Petrova/ Katarina Srebotnik (RUS/SLO x3) 7-6 (7/2), 6-3.