Emir hosts Iftar. this is not a drama, we will continue with our nuclear programme,

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1 ISO 9001:2008 CERTIFIED NEWSPAPER Brazil battered JBOG to save 600,000 tonnes of LNG a year Sunday 13 July Ramadan 1435 Volume 19 Number 6125 Minimum pay for building sector urged QF report suggests major changes DOHA: An important study released by Qatar Foundation on foreign labour recruitment to Qatar has called on the authorities to fix a minimum wage for all occupations in the construction sector and ensure timely payment of salaries. The report, titled Migrant Labour Recruitment to Qatar, was commissioned as part of the Qatar Foundation Migrant Worker Welfare Initiative and addresses several key issues concerning low-skilled migrant workers rights. The 160-page document was prepared after visiting five manpower exporting countries in Asia Philippines, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and India. An assigned minimum wage for all occupations in the construction sector in Qatar, regardless of nationality, would help to prevent the exploitation of workers from particular countries. Cost of food should not be linked to wages and specified clearly in the contract that employers will provide sufficient, decent and culturally appropriate food, says the report. The Qatari authorities should protect workers by ensuring proper and timely payment for Business 22 Sport 29 Emir hosts Iftar FROM LEFT: Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal, forward Arjen Robben and midfielder Nigel de Jong celebrate at the end of the third place play-off match between Brazil and Netherlands during the 2014 Fifa World Cup at the National Stadium in Brasilia yesterday. Netherlands won 3-0. See also pages 30, 31, 32 Today s match GERMANY VS ARGENTINA (10PM) >>Page 11 their work in accordance with Qatari law. Arrangements should be established that allow workers to have bank accounts in Qatar and require all contractors and subcontractors to pay salaries directly into the bank account (as is the case in Bahrain). Bank accounts may be setup in sending countries with arrangements with Qatari banks, or Qatari banks with arrangements with banks of sending countries, prior to departure, the report recommended. The report has called on the authorities reclassify the recruitment fees as a form of bribe extorted by recruitment agents from hapless workers. The report maintains that that workers should not pay any charges or fees for recruitment and arrive in Qatar debt-free. Employing companies should pay for all recruitment costs (fees and charges) as is the norm for more highly skilled workers and professionals. The report found that recruitment agents in the sending countries are paying kickback bribes to personnel of employing companies in Qatar to secure the labour supply contracts. Continued on page 4 DOHA: Car dealers in Qatar have argued that consumers here are choosy and buy fulloption versions of cars, which cost more than the basic versions, and this creates the impression that car prices here are higher than those in other GCC countries. It is not fair to say that car prices in Qatar are high compared to other countries in the region. The media has taken up the issue of car prices. It is an exaggeration. Customers in Qatar buy only full-option cars that are expensive compared to the regular ones, said Mohammad Anderson, Root delight England camp editor@pen.com.qa adv@pen.com.qa Editorial: Advertising: / The Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani hosted an Iftar banquet in honour of heads of diplomatic missions in Qatar, Qatari ambassadors abroad and senior Foreign Ministry officials. The banquet was attended by H H Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Personal Representative of the Emir, and Foreign Minister H E Khalid bin Mohammed Al Attiyah. Gaza death toll rises to 157 GAZA CITY: The world implored Israel and Hamas to end hostilities yesterday, but the violence escalated with the toll in Israeli strikes rising to 157 and Gaza militants firing more rocket salvos. It was the bloodiest day since the conflict erupted on Tuesday, with 46 Palestinians killed. Both sides have dismissed calls for a truce, and Israel continued to build up troops along the Gaza border ahead of a possible ground invasion, warning Palestinians in northern Gaza to evacuate their homes. The UN Security Council unanimously urged Israel and Hamas to respect international Qindil, operations manager of Alfardan Automobiles. Car manufacturers conduct secret surveys of car dealers to find out if they are complying with rules on selling cars at given rates and providing proper after-sales service. So no one can breach the rules and sell cars at higher prices without approval from the company, Qindil said. He was speaking during discussion on the issue at a Ramadan tent organised by Al Sharq. He said the Qatari market was smaller than that in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, so the dealers had humanitarian laws and stop the loss of life. The 15-member council urged a return to calm, and restitution of the November 2012 ceasefire, referring to Gaza s last deadly fullscale conflict. Israel s aerial campaign the largest and deadliest since 2012 saw strikes start early yesterday, including one that hit a centre for the handicapped, and another that killed two nephews of Gaza s former Hamas premier, Ismail Haniya. Rockets fired from Gaza targeted Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, with several intercepted over Israel s commercial capital and Jerusalem-bound projectiles higher costs per car, but this cost was not passed on to buyers because of strict monitoring by the Consumer Protection Department. Prospective buyers could find out the prices of cars in all GCC countries simply by visiting the websites of the dealers in each country, pointed out Ahid Dawood, manager of Al Boraq Automobiles, the sole Porsche dealer in Qatar. On the prices of spare parts, Dawood said there was a law in Qatar to curb the import of counterfeit parts. The parts need to come with a certificate of quality, hitting two southern West Bank cities. Hundreds of rockets have so far caused no Israeli deaths, and many have been intercepted by the Iron Dome missile defence system. Well over 500 projectiles have struck Israel during the conflict, and last evening two rockets fired from Lebanon hit uninhabited areas in northern Israel, the army said. Israel responded with artillery fire. Amid international efforts to mediate a truce, Egyptian president Abdel Fatah Al Sisi s government was in touch with both sides, his spokesman said. See also page 7 Iran could walk away from nuclear talks VIENNA: Iran s chief negotiator in nuclear talks in Vienna warned yestrerrday that Tehran is ready to walk away if excessive Western demands cause a failure, eight days before a deadline for a deal. Abbas Araqchi said, however, that he hoped that the attendance from today of foreign ministers including US Secretary of State John Kerry would help overcome deep differences that remain. If we see that the excessive demands (of Western powers) persisting and that a deal is impossible, this is not a drama, we will continue with our nuclear programme, Araqchi said. The presence of ministers will have a positive influence, he told Iran state television from the Austrian capital. There are questions that ministers need to take decisions on. Iran s talks with the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany are aimed at a grand bargain reducing in scope Iran s nuclear activities in return for sanctions relief. Such a deal is meant to quash for good concerns about the Islamic republic getting the bomb after more than a decade of failed diplomacy, threats of war and atomic expansion by Iran. Dealers claim car prices not high in Qatar and not every country has such a requirement, so prices of spare parts in Qatar cannot be compared with those in other countries, said Dawood. Regarding customers complaints about after sales service, the dealers said they wanted to build more facilities but it was difficult to find a suitable place. For two years we looked for suitable premises to offer after sales services to our customers on Al Wakra Street, but failed, said Qindil. Continued on page 4 Inflation in Qatar highest in GCC DOHA: The inflation rate in Qatar is the highest among the GCC countries. The latest inflation figures from the region for the 12-month period through May 2014 reveal that Qatar topped the list with 3.4 percent. Kuwait has the second-highest inflation rate in the region, at 2.9 percent, while it is 2.7 percent in Saudi Arabia, 2.1 percent in the United Arab Emirates, 1.9 percent in Bahrain, and 1.5 percent in Oman, the Statistical Centre for the Cooperation Council for the Arab Countries of the Gulf (GCC-Stat) announced yesterday. When compared to April 2014 figures, inflation rates witnessed an increase of 0.5 percent in Qatar, 0.2 percent in the UAE, Oman and Kuwait, while a 0.1 percent increase was registered in Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, inflation figures in Bahrain for the month of May 2014 remained stable when compared to the figures of April As for price growth within groups of the general consumer price index in each GCC member state, Housing and Energy costs increased in Qatar by seven percent over the 12-month period through May Furniture and Household Goods increased by 4.7 percent, 5.2 percent and 7.4 percent in the UAE, Kuwait and Oman, respectively, while Education in Bahrain increased by 5 percent. Meanwhile, tobacco prices in Saudi Arabia grew by 6.4 percent. All Afghan votes to be recounted KABUL: US State Secretary John Kerry convinced Afghanistan s feuding presidential candidates yesterday to agree to a total recount of last month s presidential election, which has threatened to split the country along ethnic lines. After two days of intense talks between Kerry, Abdullah Abdullah and Ashraf Ghani, all parties agreed that the best way out of the acrimonious and protracted deadlock was to delay the inauguration and recount all the ballots from scratch. Preliminary results from the run-off vote on June 14 put Ghani, a former World Bank official, well ahead but Abdullah rejected the result, claiming widespread fraud and calling the outcome a coup against the Afghan people. The two rivals agreed to abide by the outcome of a UN-supervised recount. See also page 16 Ramadan Timing Todays Iftar: 06:29pm Tomorrow s Imsak: 03:14am

2 02 HOME Special fund to be set up for organ donation QC s foreign branches to support families of donors BY FAZEENA SALEEM DOHA: In a novel project to support organ donation, Qatar Charity (QC), together with Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), will soon create a special fund, officials said yesterday. Families of organ donors will be supported through foreign branches of QC, with a new collaboration with HMC s Qatar Centre for Organ Transplant. The collaboration in line with the Doha Donation Accord, also aims to raise awareness about organ donation. QC is always keen to support organ donors and their families and sponsoring the campaign comes as part of our commitment to enhance partnerships with national organisations, particularly in promoting social and humanitarian activities, Abdul Nasser Al Zaher Al Yafie, Executive Director, Collection and Branches Department, QC, told a press conference yesterday. He said the campaign will utilise QC s experience in collecting donations to creating the fund. QC appreciates the role of Qatar Center for Organ Transplants in promoting organ donation among the community and honouring donors and their families in recognition of their contributions to life-saving efforts in Qatar, he said. The collaboration will support HMC s ongoing 40-day awareness campaign being held at various locations to create awareness about organ donation. Within the first two weeks of the campaign, about 6,000 people have registered, agreeing to donate organs in case of death. The campaign aims at receiving 20,000 registrations, said Dr Riadh Fadhil, Director, Qatar Organ Donation Centre (Hiba). His team has trained more than 400 HMC staff involved in the awareness campaign. The campaign urges residents to consider registering as organ donors. Volunteers, who can speak different languages, help people understand the cause and make a more informed decision about registering as a donor. Qatar has 16,000 people registered as donors, which experts say is not sufficient to meet the need. Dr Yousef AI Maslamani, Head and Consultant, Organ Transplant Department, said, We need more donors to register in Qatar so that nobody has to face losing a loved one while waiting for an organ. Residents need to know that organ donation is a safe procedure that would not impact a donor s health detrimentally. He urged the public to visit organ donation booths and learn more about types of organ donation. FROM LEFT: Abdul Nasser Al Zaher Al Yafie, Executive Director, Collection and Branch Department, Qatar Charity, Dr Yousef Al Maslamani, Head of Organ Transplant Committee, HMC, and Dr Riyadh Fadhil, Kidney Transplant Consultant, Urologist and Deputy Director, Qatar Center for Organ Transplantation, at the press conference at Qatar Charity yesterday. KAMMUTTY V P Qatar CSR Report 2013 launched DOHA: To improve efficiency of CSR activities in the country, the Ministry of Economy and Commerce has called for the formation of an association, including civil society and companies, to address obstacles facing social responsibility and suggest solutions to overcome them. The ministry, in the introduction to the recently launched Qatar CSR Report 2013, has encouraged implementation of CSR in all institutions as a component of increased competitiveness. It also orients Qatari companies towards integration into an effective network that highlights Qatar s role in the field at the global level. Qatar CSR network has launched the report in partnership with Qatar University and participation of the ministry. The Report titled The Initiative, is distinguished by contributions from top Qatari figures, professors and professionals. The introduction says the ministry has formed a team to suggest CSR standards for Qatari companies. The team comprises bodies and ministries, including the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, Qatar Chamber, Qatar Exchange, National Committee for Human Rights and Audit Bureau. Following the state s adoption of Qatari principles and standards, steps will be taken to maximise benefits of the goals and guarantee sustainable development in the future. The ministry is leading in the field of corporate social responsibility (CSR) nationwide, focusing on enhancing efforts to help achieve Qatar s National Vision It has given full attention to CSR principles as part of its strategic planning and programmes that contribute to the most effective implementation of economic policies. It uses CSR as a leadership platform to supervise and guide commercial The cover of the report. activities in accordance with the needs of national development, and to implement policies and programmes to attract investment and support the increase of exports. The ministry recognises the importance of government support for CSR initiatives to motivate and facilitate corporate procedures to implement developmental plans and projects that emerge from these initiatives, and engage small and medium enterprises in CSR. It intends to launch a Qatari CSR index that takes into account similar international experiments based on UN standards. It also seeks to form a CSR network that covers Qatari companies in general and companies registered at Qatar Stock Exchange in particular, to promote the exchange of ideas and help these companies work closely to meet CSR standards. Moreover, it believes in the importance of the government s support of CSR initiatives through encouraging and facilitating corporate actions, implementing resulting developmental projects, and integrating the concept of social responsibility into education to make future generations aware of CSR. The ministry adopts sustainable CSR projects as they have long-term impacts rather than using the temporary financial aid method. The report reflects the increasing importance of sustainable development, and is an indicator of the economic and social growth in Qatar. It is available on qatarcsr.org/qatarcsr-report English.pdf

3 HOME DOHA: Qatar Charity (QC) has carried out relief projects worth QR142m for Syrians in the field of food, shelter, health and education. Over QR30m was spent on Syrians in Lebanon and QR9m on those in Turkey, benefiting 1.6 million people. Around 55 percent of projects were for those displaced within Syria in response to worsening humanitarian conditions and millions of Syrians fleeing cities to escape violence. The projects are part of QC s Ramadan Campaign The Light of Giving. QC is distributing food at camps for internally displaced persons and refugees and running bakeries for them, benefiting 10,40,000 people at a cost of around QR48m. It has established villages for the displaced and provided other forms of shelter and essential items such as blankets, refrigerators, fans, toiletries and Eid clothing for around 179,000 people at a cost of QR37m. In the area of health, QC has provided essential treatment for thousands of wounded and sick Syrians and medical tools, supplies and ambulances to health centres at a cost of around QR49m to cover over 285,000 displaced and refugee Syrians. It has also established schools for Syrian refugees in Turkey, at a cost of over QR9m, benefiting around 70,000 refugees. As part of its Ramadan campaign, QC provided aid to Syrian displaced people in neighbouring countries such as Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq and Turkey for 147,000 people at a cost of QR1,254,000 in addition to Zakat Al Fitr and Iftar tables, allocating QR1,000 for Iftar tables for about 50,000 people. QC was recently named first in the world in terms of non-governmental humanitarian relief organisations working for the Syrian people until 2013, according to a report by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian 03 QC projects for Syrians hit QR142m Qatar Charity allocates QR20m for Gaza projects DOHA: Qatar Charity (QC) has announced the allocation of QR20m to rebuild houses of civilians in the Gaza Strip, demolished by Israeli air strikes and to cover other needs, including food and medicine. QC said in a statement that the support is part of efforts by many benefactors and citizens of Qatar to alleviate the worsening humanitarian situation in the Strip. QNA Qatar Charity volunteers prepare bread packets in a bakery. Affairs of the United Nations (OCHA). The ranking was based on an OCHA Financial Tracking Service 2013 report and included funds allocated by states, UN organisations and international non-governmental humanitarian organisations which implemented relief projects for those affected by the Syrian crisis until 2013-end. The report said QC had allocated $29,585,717 ahead of many European countries, including France and Italy.

4 04 HOME Kickbacks range from $200 to $600 per person, or more Continued from page 1 These kickback payments range from $200 $600 per person, or more. Agencies often cover the costs of Qatari company personnel travelling to the sending countries for trade skill testing, including hotel charges, food, entertainment and sometimes airfares. These extra recruitment costs are built into the recruitment fees unwittingly borne by the low-skilled migrant workers, not the skilled and professional personnel who are fewer in number and usually pay negligible fees, or nothing. To curb the menace of free visas and fake visas, the report called for a close monitoring of Qatari contractors and subcontractors and their labour suppliers in Qatar to ensure that the visas of workers are commensurate with the positions they have filled. This free visa practice, common in the construction industry, results in workers having occupations other than those listed in their visa/ residence permit and where sometimes workers must pay the sponsor an annual or monthly fee for the maintenance and renewal of the visa and residency. Thus, workers are caught up in illegal working arrangements from which it is difficult to leave, says the report. The report also recommended that ethical recruitment agencies must be employed who take nothing from migrant workers. Sub-agents in local regions, another source of deception and exploitation, should also be regulated, brought under ethical agencies, or not used at all. This requires the establishment of a comprehensive accreditation process. Agencies in Qatar who supply (or lease) labour on a temporary basis need to be monitored to ensure compliance with ethical recruitment standards. The study found that most migrant workers do not sign a contract before their departure to Qatar. Those who do are more often given the contract to sign under duress, just before their departure, often at the airport when the impetus to leave has already been established, or on arrival in Qatar. It is also common for companies to ignore these contracts and issue a substitute contract with wages and conditions that are less than originally promised. Workers are either not given a copy of their contract (whether the original or the substitute) or told to destroy the first contract when they arrive in Qatar. Most contracts do not make clear the terms and conditions for the termination of the contract.. The termination provisions are also linked to the exit visa requirement, so that when a dispute arises, if the termination guidelines are not clearly specified, workers may be denied their freedom to leave the country or to find alternative employment within the country with a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the sponsor. Foreigners are vulnerable under these conditions and may be subjected to practices of extortion in order to obtain an exit visa or NOC. The report recommended that a standardized contract be developed in conjunction with all stakeholders that makes terms and conditions of employment clearly understood by the contractor and the worker, including detailed termination conditions and liabilities linked to exit visa and NOC rights. The problems of the current private sponsorship system could be overcome by seriously addressing the loopholes that allow its abuse, or have the government undertake the role and responsibilities of sponsorship for all migrant workers. Regardless of whether such reforms take place or not, sponsor denial of an exit visa or NOC should have automatic independent and speedy judicial review and legal representation with rights of residency and employment until resolved (unless criminal charges are involved), says the report. The report called on the authorities to establish a policy that guarantees workers an exit visa or a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for transferring from one employer to another. This is particularly important in instances where their rights have been violated and verified, such as wages less than originally promised, non-payment of wages, excessive working hours and various forms of abuse where judicial redress should be facilitated. Compiled by Dr Ray Jureidini, Associate Professor of Sociology at the Institute for Migration Studies at the Lebanese American University, and Director of Research at the Center of Design Innovation at Qatar Foundation. It was published by Bloomsbury Qatar Foundation digitally on qscience.com. Call to make job deals in workers native tongue Qatar Foundation report stresses easy exit for illegals DOHA: A report released by Qatar Foundation on foreign workers recruitments for Qatar has called for job contracts of workers to be in their native language and provide them with time to consider the contract prior to departure for Qatar. The report titled Migrant Labour Recruitment to Qatar recommended that all workers retain a copy of their original contract at all times. Substitute contracts on arrival should be banned unless they are advantageous to workers. Most workers interviewed by many QF companies in Qatar did not have a copy of their contracts, said the report. Typically, when asked what was in the contract, they were only able to cite the wage level. Rarely are the contracts in their native language. One HR manager in Qatar explained that the employment offer they receive in their home country is only in English, while the proper contract signed on arrival in Qatar is in Arabic and English. The company said it relies upon the recruitment agent to explain the offer to workers in their language. Lack of transparency regarding contracts and visas and who will explain terms and conditions to prospective migrant workers is something that needs to be addressed, says the report. None of the workers interviewed in Qatar for the study were in possession of their passports. Most said their employers were holding passports for safe-keeping. But others said passports were confiscated. Companies said passports were available on request. Although the withholding of passports is illegal according to Qatar Labour Law, it is a widespread practice that has been highlighted by all international organizations in their ongoing critiques of the conditions of migrant labour in Qatar. If employers provided proper secure storage space (as required under new QF Standards), the security issue should no longer be a reason, or excuse, for companies not to return passports once the official paperwork has been completed, says the report. The number of irregular migrant workers in Qatar is unknown, says the report. Typically these are individuals who have entered the country on free visas but have not been able to find employment or a sponsor and whose visas have expired without their having left the country. Thus they are stuck in a black labour market, mostly as day labourers and do not have enough money to leave, nor a sponsor to sign an exit visa. Many can be seen on roads and highways waiting for someone to offer them work on a daily or hourly basis. Decreasing the number and vulnerability of irregular migrants would be achieved by utilising easy exit procedures and bridging visas A migrant worker, who normally has no idea or ability to obtain or renew his work or residency visa, should not be criminalised for his irregular status. Easy exit repatriation should be facilitated, or a sponsor found to regularise their work and residency status by way of a bridging Ceremony held for Qatar 2022 workers DOHA: The Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy (SCDL) yesterday held a ceremony at the Brazil 2014 Fan Zone at Katara in recognition of 350 workers and officials working with the panel on preparations for World Cup 2002 in Doha. The ceremony was attended by workers of three companies involved in the projects of Wakrah Stadium and Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor City Hamad Bin Khalid company, Amanah company and Bin Omran trading and contracting company in addition to workers from many firms which provide the panel with services such as cleaning and catering including ISC, Aamal Group and Asmakh company. The event included football-related activities and participating workers received gifts from the panel. SCDL s Workers Welfare Committee Chief Farah Al Muftah said, Each worker here is an integral part of our society, which will make history by hosting the first World Cup in the Middle East. QNA visa a technique being considered in Ireland and other countries. This will increase protection and mobility of migrant workers, says the report. In the survey of low-income households in Qatar, 44.3 percent of respondents said they had signed a contract in their home country which means more than half (55.7 percent) did not sign a contract in their home country. However, 76.8 percent signed a contract in Qatar. It may be assumed that 32.5 percent signed two contracts, one at home and another on arrival in Qatar. This is the practice of substitution contracts, where conditions and salary approved by the employee prior to departure are replaced by a contract with reduced benefits when they arrive when it is too late to refuse and turn back. A common practice in Nepal, the Philippines, and India is obtaining the signature of the employee on a substitute contract either at the airport, just prior to departure, or upon arrival or both. Thus, they accept work and wages offered and cannot afford to report the deception and coercion involved in the recruitment and placement process. This is trafficking and a major source of anger and disenchantment among migrant workers in Qatar. The Philippines is one of the few countries where national legislation forces recruitment agencies to be financially liable for any wage discrepancies between what was promised to the migrant worker and what was paid, says the report. Fast clearance urged Continued from page 1 Regarding the challenges dealers face, Ala Shalabi, who is in charge of customs clearance at Al Boraq Automobiles, said: Customs clearance for vehicles takes at least a week. The specification and standardization authority has opened an office at the new airport, and that has helped the dealers. However, the customs department should expedite clearance because our customers wait on tenterhooks. The delays could be caused by Qatar Airways, the specification and standardization authority and even the Ministry of Environment if the consignment contains chemical materials, said Dawood. Officials at the event. QFA hosts Iftar for 10 Asian communities DOHA: Qatar Football Association (QFA) hosted Iftar for 10 Asian communities on Thursday at Al Gassar Resort. The communities included Indonesians, Sri Lankans, Nepalese, Malaysians, Singaporeans, Chinese, Japanese, Jordanians, Lebanese and South Koreans. QFA also organised Iftars for communities last week to thank them for support throughout the year. Iftars also aimed to discuss future cooperation with community leaders, and ways in which QFA can support communities in their future events and activities. Eight Ambassadors and about 200 guests attended. The ambassadors included Ahmad Jazri bin Mohd Johar (Malaysia), Sanjiv Arora (India), Ganesh Prasad Dhakal (Nepal), Hasan Najem (Lebanon), Crescente R Relaci n (the Philippines), Chung Keejong (South Korea), Shingo Tsuda (Japan) and Wong Kwok Pun (Singapore). Hamad Al Kuwari, Deputy Head, Marketing and Communications, QFA, thanked them for support in previous projects between QFA and communities. We thank everyone for attending the Iftar today. This Iftar reflects the long-standing relationship we have with Asian communities and is a way for us to thank everyone for support for QFA s activities. Through this Iftar, we aim to develop our relationship with the different segments of the community by organising initiatives to spreading football across Qatar. The first successful initiative organised by QFA for the Asian communities was the Asian Communities Football Tournament in which six teams participated in its first edition, then 12 in the second edition due to huge success over the last two sports seasons. We will work again this year with community leaders to support their projects and organise joint initiatives to develop communities.

5 New Hala Smart cards for prepaid customers DOHA: Ooredoo yesterday launched a new range of Hala Smart cards, offering customers more options to purchase low-cost call minutes and data. Available in denominations of QR5, QR15 and QR35, the bundles are the lowest Hala Smart packs introduced in Qatar and include local minutes, SMS and mobile Internet data. The scratch cards, which are valid for 30 days, have been introduced to the Hala segment after strong customer demand for more low-cost options. The cards are for local use and can be used in addition to any other subscription in use. The QR5 card includes 15 local minutes/sms and 30MB of data, the QR15 card will activate 50 local minutes/sms and 100MB of data, while the QR35 card will activate 120 local minutes/sms and 250MB of mobile Internet data. Hala Smart, Ooredoo s prepaid mobile service, has become one of the most popular services for the company in By making a host of low cost and high-end denominations available, Ooredoo aims to empower customers to customise plans by picking options best suited to their needs. To activate the card, customers need to scratch off the secret panel to reveal the activation code, and follow instructions on the back of the card to redeem call minutes and data. Cards can be purchased in an Ooredoo shop or throughout Qatar with Ooredoo authorised dealers. For details on mobile data from Ooredoo, visit HOME Children participating in a tug-of-war at Al Shaqab in Education City. QF s Garangao Night attracts thousands DOHA: Thousands of children and their families gathered at Al Shaqab in Education City on Thursday evening to enjoy Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF) Garangao night to mark the completion of the first half of Ramadan on the 14th night. The popular evening saw thousands participate in pony rides, face painting, arts and crafts, and henna art along with other activities and games. They also received Garangao gifts and sweets and complimentary books. To foster understanding of Qatar s heritage among its youngest population, Qatar National Library (QNL), member of QF, organised a muppet show to tell traditional stories. On the successful community-based event, Fahad Al Qahtani, Group Executive Director, Administration, QF, said: We celebrated Garangao to showcase the culture and heritage of this country in a modern way. He said the Garangao evening saw participation from a large number of Qatari and expat families. This is an event that brings the community together, and allows us to share our traditions and culture with our expat community members as well. At Al Shaqab, we have a diverse community who shares a common passion and love for horses and for building champions of the future and, through an event like this, we can convey this passion not just to members of QF s community but to everyone in Qatar. One of the most notable aspects of the event is that it is a collaboration among QF entities. By hosting the event, Al Shaqab is supporting QF s vision of community development and preserve and raise awareness about Qatar s heritage and identity among future generations. QNL s Associate Director for Administration and Planning, Saadi A Al Said, said: We aimed, through participating in the Garangao night, to highlight Qatar s heritage and encourage the young generation to preserve traditions, as this is one of the most important priority of QNL and aligns with its vision of bridging Qatar s heritage and future. DOHA: The Social Development Center (SDC) has launched the 2014 edition of the Tarahom campaign under the name Intu thakhrena, which translates to You are the real asset, this Ramadan. The campaign seeks to collect funds from philanthropists and gooddoers to help underprivileged families in the community. It represents one of the most important charitable humanitarian services at SDC which provides assistance to needy families, including widows, divorcees, orphans, patients suffering of kidney failure and outstanding academic students who would benefit from scholarships. Mariam Al Mannai, Director, Community Services, said, Ramadan is the month of love and solidarity and compassion and Muslims understand the importance of giving zakat donations during the holy month. We launch Tarahom at the beginning of Ramadan every year to help guide anyone willing to pay 05 Social Development Centre campaign seeks funds to help needy families zakat or make donations to ensure they reach the people in need. This is in line with our social responsibility role and part of Qatar National Vision She thanked Al Rayyan Media Marketing, official media partner for the campaign for the second year, and hoped to continue the partnership in the future. She also thanked Al Meera and Lulu Hypermarket for support to the campaign. SDC s humanitarian services has benefited 22,109 people from 1996 to Of these, 21,856 medical services for kidney failures patients, 13,844 monetary services and 11,527 nonmonetary service, 6,853 educational services and 359 medical services. Humanitarian services have been organised at SDC to bring about positive change in the Qatari community. These services aim to assist individuals to adapt to their environment and overcome social, economic and health barriers.

6 Tel Fax 06 HOME Woqod honours top ex-officials DOHA: Qatar Fuel (Woqod) held an honouring ceremony for H E Abdullah bin Hamad Al Attiyah, President, Administrative Control and Transparency Authority, and former chairman, Woqod, and Mohammed Khalifa Turki Al Sobai, former vice-chairman and managing director for their efforts while in office. The ceremony at Ritz- Carlton Doha was attended by the Minister of Energy and Industry and Chairman of Qatar Petroleum H E Dr Mohamed bin Saleh Al Sada, the Minister of Education and Higher Education and former Woqod board member H E Dr Mohammed bin Abdulwaheed Al Hamadi, Abdulaziz bin Ahmed Al Maliki, Director, Office of the Chairman of Officials at the honouring ceremony. Administrative Control and Transparency Authority, Nasser Al Jaidah, CEO, Qatar Petroleum International Ltd, Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Chairman, Woqod, Hussein Mohammed Al Ishaq, Vice- Chairman, Woqod, Ibrahim Jaham Al Kuwari, CEO, Woqod, members of Woqod Board of Directors, officials and employees. It also commemorated Woqod s achievements in the past 11 years under the former chairman and former vice-chairman and managing director. Attendants recalled the years they spent working under the leadership of Al Attiyah and Al Sobai. Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman presented Al Attiyah and Al Sobai with commemorative gifts. Fax Tel Fax Tel Fax Tollfree Fax Tel Fax Tel Fax Tel Fax Tel Fax Tel Fax Tel Fax Tel Fax Tel Tel Fax Tel Fax Tel Fax Tel Fax Tel Fax Officials from Qatar Petroleum International Company and Sheikh Eid Charity Association at the meeting. QPI donates laptops, office equipment to charity DOHA: Within the context of its support for community institutions during Ramadan, Qatar Petroleum International Company (QPI) donated devices and equipment to Sheikh Eid Charity Association. The donation included laptops, screens and accessories and office equipment. Nasser Khalil Al Jaidah, CEO, QPI, Ali bin Saeed Al Hawl Al Marri, Chairman, Qatar Guest Center (an affiliate of the association), Hamad Abdul Wahid Al Hammadi, Group Manager Corporate Services, QPI, and Hazem Ahmed Al Marei, Director, Qatar Guest Center, met at QPI s head office in Towers in Dafna and reviewed issues future cooperation, support and existing projects. Al Jaidah said: We are pleased to collaborate with an entity that has a strong institutional experience in humanitarian work like the association. The initiative is the first of its kind whereby QPI provides DOHA: As part of its annual Do Good Deeds campaign, International Bank of Qatar (ibq) and W Doha Hotel and Residences have united efforts to celebrate Ramadan with activities targeting young audiences across organisations in Doha. Reflecting the spirit of the auspicious month and to add to festivities associated with Garangao, ibq and W Doha Hotel and Residences worked with Hamad General Hospital and Al Rumeilah Hospital to organise fun and engaging visits for children. Staff from ibq and W Doha Hotel visited children and distributed gifts and Garangao treats. Jabra Ghandour, Managing Director, ibq, said: Garangao as a tradition teaches children principles of giving and sharing. ibq is an avid supporter of philanthropic initiatives that help strengthen ties with our community, and Garangao provides us with in-kind donations to one of the community institutions. Our donation will not be the last as the company will continue this pursuit. Our support to community institutions stems from our belief in the importance of this sector and the role played by these institutions in serving, supporting, developing and prospering the community. He called upon companies to follow suit through support instead of limiting it to financial contribution only. In this way, available resources can be fully utilised for the benefit of society as a whole. Al Marri thanked QPI and praised its role in supporting humanitarian activities and development in Qatar. He highlighted the partnership the association has adopted with all sectors of society, especially private companies and traders and said the association s initiatives can benefit the whole society. Initiatives include training for orphans after the end an opportunity to connect with the promising future of their guardianship and their orientation to the labour market. It guarantees social security through knowing the behavioural history of orphans and monitoring their behaviour from childhood to adulthood. The initiative has been appreciated on official and public levels. Introducing expats to the tolerance of Islam and the culture and language of the Qatari society represents a source of social security for our homeland. Our religious, social, and moral responsibility makes it imperative upon us to diffuse the Arab and Islamic identity, where Qatar has become a popular destination for tourists and workers from all parts of the world. The association will benefit from the devices and equipment by using or selling them and utilising proceeds to support its welfare projects including education, health, economic empowerment, and combating poverty and its outreach projects. generations and celebrate the spirit of Ramadan and Qatar s DOHA: Close on the heels of the successful Win 10 Toyota Camry Cars promotion participated in by millions of our loyal customers in the past three months, Safari group is launching another attractive proposition, offering customers a chance to win 5 Mercedes Benz GLK 250 four-wheel drive from today until November 2 at its outlets in Qatar. Customers who purchase goods worth QR50 and above will get a raffle coupon to participate in the mega draw. The promotion is coming out at a time when many residents have started their purchases for annual vacations. Safari is selling over 500 consumer products at cost price and below cost throughout Ramadan at its outlets throughout Doha. I wish to thank all Safari customers and avid shoppers who have shown support and enthusiasm for all our previous promotions and hope to get the same response this time. We have many new and exciting plans for 2014 and are coming out with promotions which will be better than what we did in the past, said Safari Group Managing Director Aboobacker Madappat. Safari is always customercentric and would always serve valued customers by giving quality products and service at the best price to create a niche for them in this competitive business environment, he added. There is an ongoing Clickon promotion where purchases worth QR50 and above of Safari products enable customers to participate in a lucky draw and win one Toyota Prado SUV and many more exciting prizes. ibq, W Doha Hotel mark Garangao at hospitals ibq and W Doha Hotel and Residences team with goodies for children. Safari offers chance to win five Mercedes Benz GLK 250 heritage with them.

7 MIDDLE EAST Israel fighter jet bombs home of disabled Missile targeted at militant supposed to be hiding on first floor GAZA CITY: Who knows who lived in the two first-floor apartments above a home for eight disabled adults in a neighbourhood of eastern Gaza? Perhaps, as a neighbour suggests, one of them was a militant with Islamic Jihad who lived there with his family. But the neighbour says he is not sure. What is certain is that the occupant was absent early yesterday when the two Israeli drones knocked on his roof firing warning shots to encourage civilians to vacate the building prior to a strike. A few minutes later, an Israeli warplane fired a missile into the house. But it did not detonate on the first floor. Instead, it smashed through to the ground floor, where the explosion ripped through the room where five of the disabled people were sleeping, killing two and injuring the others. A neighbour found one of the dead, who was missing initially, after he noticed flies buzzing around the place where she was buried. A body! A body! the man shouted. Gingerly he lifted the piece of concrete concealing a curly head of hair, face down in the debris. Atef Abed, a supervisor with Palestinians react after their relatives were killed in what hospital officials said was an Israeli air strike in Gaza City yesterday. the private charity that runs the home, recognised Suha Abu Saada, 47, as her body was dug out of the rubble, one of her legs missing. As small as a child, she had been thrown out of the room where she was sleeping by the blast and buried beneath a wall. That s Suha, Abed said as the body was carried past on a mattress covered in a blanket. Ola Wishaa was 30. She was killed as well. And Ahmed was injured along with Mai and Sali. Luckily two of the other residents were away visiting their families. It seemed a miracle that anyone could have survived a missile that exploded in the very centre of a room where a fin and part of its guidance system remained embedded in Mom of rescued Syria infant seeks help BEIRUT: The mother of a two-month-old Syrian baby rescued from the rubble of a bombed Aleppo building appealed yesterday for help to raise her son. Mahmud Idlibi s dramatic rescue in the flashpoint northern city, a constant target of regime air raids, was shown in a video tweeted Friday by the team that saved him. The 30-second clip was posted by a group calling itself the Aleppo civil defence, volunteers who operate in rebel-held areas of the city. It was also posted on YouTube. Initially the team mistakenly identified the child as a girl but an correspondent met the mother and child yesterday. The mother, Umm Mahmud, said her husband and daughter had been killed in an air raid in the southern Aleppo district of Al Ansari that trapped the baby. We desperately need help, she said, her infant son next to her. We have nobody left. the concrete. A scorched bed stood to one side, damaged by the blast, which blew out all the walls and left the palm trees in the garden as truncated stumps standing among the rubble. The bomb came straight through the roof, said Mohammad Bahri, 22, who lives next door. About 4.30am two drones fired warning shots and then the jet came in and bombed. The residents were barely mobile, said neighbours, spending their time in bed or in wheelchairs, and could not escape the building. Imad Abu Shedek denied there had been Palestinian missile fire nearby. There was no resistance here. The guy upstairs, I heard he was maybe affiliated with Islamic Jihad, but he wasn t there. The first I knew was when I heard the air strike and got here and saw the bodies. An Israeli military spokeswoman said she was looking into why the centre was targeted. The latest deaths came on the deadliest night so far of the campaign, claiming 14 lives. Other civilian infrastructure damaged in the last 24 hours, according to the UNWRA spokesman Chris Gunness, includes nine of its schools. The death toll in Gaza, which Khaled, a member of Syria Civil Defence, kisses Syrian baby Mahmud Idilbi yesterday. includes a significant number of civilians, rose after five days of bombing and artillery bombardment. There have been no fatalities in Israel. Israel s defence minister, Moshe Ya alon, warned in a security briefing that long days of fighting were ahead. We are working to push forward our next objectives. Achievements are accumulating, and 07 we are continuing to destroy significant targets belonging to Hamas and other terrorist organisations. Both militant factions in Gaza and Israel continued to trade fire yesterday with the sound of artillery, guns and air strikes echoing through almost empty streets amid the periodic whoosh of rockets into Israel. THE GUARDIAN

8 08 MIDDLE EAST UN warns Iraq of chaos over standoff World body official uses reprimanding tone to tell politicians to come together for forming government BAGHDAD: The UN warned yesterday that Iraq s deeply-divided politicians must quickly form a government or risk descent into chaos, as security forces beat back one militant assault but lost ground elsewhere. Iraqi MPs are to hold a parliament session today aimed at reviving flagging efforts to form a government in the face of a jihadist-led militant offensive, which has overrun large areas of five provinces since it began on June 9. The previous session of parliament earlier this month ended in mayhem, with MPs trading heckles and threats. Too few returned to the chamber after a break meant to cool tempers and the quorum needed to proceed with a vote was lost. UN envoy Nickolay Mladenov warned Iraqi politicians that failure to move forward on electing a new speaker, a new president and a new government risks plunging the country into chaos. It will only serve the interests of those who seek to divide the people of Iraq and destroy their chances for peace and prosperity, he said. If serious solutions to the current problems are not found, then all political leaders will have to share their responsibility for failing to act with the necessary sense of duty at a time of crisis. Attendance could be a problem, with parliament not even able to reach a quorum for an emergency session called at the height of the militant offensive last month. Abdulsalam Al Maliki, an MP from Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki s list, said point blank that any member of the Shia National Alliance who stays away is siding with the enemies of Iraq. In Anbar province, security forces backed by tribal fighters held off a major attack by militants on Haditha, a town northwest of Baghdad made strategic by the large nearby dam and its oil refinery. The attack on Haditha, located on the road linking militant-held western areas and the provincial capital Ramadi, began with mortar fire, police said. Gunmen travelling in vehicles, British actress in South Sudan including some captured from security forces, then attacked from two sides but were kept from entering the town in fighting that left 13 militants and four police dead, officers and a doctor said. Previous attacks on Haditha were of a smaller scale and the capture of the dam by the militants would raise the prospect of it being used to cut water or flood areas downstream, as happened earlier this year elsewhere in Anbar. In Diyala province, meanwhile, security forces and civilian volunteers yesterday launched a push to retake militant-held areas north of Muqdadiyah, a town on a main road to provincial capital Baquba, a police captain said. But in a setback for government forces, militants overran the Shia-majority towns of Al Tawakul and Al Zarkush in the province, displacing local residents, witnesses said. In Jalawla, another Diyala town, Kurdish peshmerga fighters began a major operation to expel militants from areas they hold, a senior Kurdish officer said. Major General Hussein Mansur said Kurdish forces were using tanks and artillery in the battle, and had succeeded in retaking territory from the militants. Security forces folded during the initial offensive led by the Islamic State jihadist group, prompting the government to announce that it would arm civilian volunteers, thousands of whom have since signed up. While security forces have since improved, they are still struggling to make significant gains in offensive operations, and a major push to retake executed dictator Saddam Hussein s hometown Tikrit has made little progress in more than two weeks. As federal security forces quit their posts in northern areas during the initial fighting, Iraqi Kurds took control of a swathe of disputed territory that they have long wanted to incorporate into their autonomous region over Baghdad s strong objections. They have kept areas from being overrun by militants, but the move has caused a major escalation in tensions between A handout photograph made available by the Charity Oxfam yesterday showing British actress Keira Knightley meeting Martha NyaKuma Ley, 30, in the Bor camp, Jonglei State, South Sudan. Oxfam reports that Martha has three children, but lost one in the POC (Protection of Civilians) camp from measles. Her child is buried in a makeshift graveyard outside the camp. Keira Knightley traveled with Oxfam to meet families who have been affected by the recent conflict. Iraqi security forces yesterday at the site of a suicide car bombing which killed 28 people and wounded 25 in Iraq s disputed northern city of Kirkuk the previous day. the Kurdish region and the federal government. Kurdish authorities on Friday laid claim to disputed northern oilfields in a move slammed by Baghdad, further raising the stakes. The Baghdad-Kurd row has dimmed the prospects of significant progress in forming a new government when parliament meets today. The political deadlock raises fears that Iraq could splinter along ethnic and sectarian lines, a reality already playing out in parts of the country. Iraq s top Shia cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, urged fighters on Friday to respect the rights of all Iraqis, regardless of sect or politics. There have been many reports of disappearances and suspected mass killings since the insurgents offensive began last month. Tensions are high in Sunni areas north of Baghdad where Islamic State Jordan reluctant to host US-led Syria rebel training WASHINGTON: Jordan, where the US Central Intelligence Agency has been covertly training Syrian rebels for more than a year, is reluctant to host an expanded rebel instruction programme, US officials said. Jordan s reticence, confirmed by four US officials, is a potentially serious setback for President Barack Obama s proposed $500m initiative, announced in June, to train and arm moderate rebels fighting the government of Syrian President Bashar Al Assad and Al Qaeda-linked groups. It could signal a larger challenge in finding suitable nations willing to host the US-led training at a time of heightened tensions across much of the Middle East. While US officials have not made a formal request to the King Abdullah of Jordan country was widely considered a top choice to host the training due its close security relationship with Washington, proximity to neighbouring Syria and pool of more than 600,000 Syrian refugees. US officials and analysts said Jordan fears violent retaliation US President Barack Obama for overt training conducted by US military units. Jordan told the US, No boots on the ground, said one of the officials, who all requested anonymity because they were discussing sensitive US military arrangements. Other current and Jordanian government, the from Syria if its territory is used former US officials described the Jordanian position as less ironclad, however, and said they still hoped to convince Jordan to participate in the programme, which must still be approved by the US Congress. The Jordanian government, through its Washington embassy, declined requests by Reuters for comment. A Jordanian official in Amman, speaking on condition of anonymity, said it was premature to even suggest the Kingdom has rejected any such plan that even the Americans have yet to flesh out. While there are other potential sites where the training could take place, including Turkey and some Gulf states, no agreements have been struck, US officials said. There s been no decision on location, at all. Or even...what the character of the programme itself would look like, if we get the money from Congress, said a second US official. Jordan already hosts a small and ostensibly covert, effort by the CIA to equip and train small groups of Assad s opponents. But it faces increasing threats to its stability from the Syrian civil war and rise of extremist groups such as the Islamic State. The United States has already increased its military presence in Jordan to around 1,300 soldiers. It has also stationed Patriot surfaceto-air missiles there. Jordan s King Abdullah met with US Vice President Joe Biden in Washington on Thursday for talks that included Syria, the White House said in a statement. US and Jordanian officials declined to give further details. If approved by lawmakers, the $500m fund to arm and train rebels will not be available until October 1 at the earliest, or possibly months later. Shia group gives back army camp to Yemen SANAA: Shia Muslim tribesmen handed back an army camp to the Yemeni government yesterday, an activist in the group said, to try to defuse tensions caused by the capture of a provincial capital north of Sanaa this week. The fall of Omran, some 50km north from the Yemeni capital, has drawn condemnation from the UN Security Council and a threat of military action by President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, who had ordered the army to raise its preparedness level to carry out any tasks that may be assigned to it. The activist, Osama Sari, said the Shia Houthis handed over the headquarters of the 311 Division to an army force despatched from Sanaa. Hussein Al Azzi, a politburo member of Ansarullah (Supporter of God), as the Houthi group is officially known, said all measures had been taken to facilitate the handover of the camp to the army, which he said had come as a result of understandings reached with official authorities. And we are always ready for further understandings about the normalisation of the situation in the province, he added in comments posted on his Facebook page. The fighting has killed at least 200 people, displaced more than 35,000 and sparked widespread fears of further turmoil in the US-allied country of 25 million. Yemen has been trying to recover from political crisis that started with mass protests in 2011 that forced President Ali Abdullah Saleh to step down. The Houthis captured Omran on Tuesday after days of fighting against government soldiers and allied Sunni tribal fighters in clashes that had threatened to turn into a sectarian conflict. militants have lashed out at communities they see as supporting government forces. Iraqi security forces and government affiliated militias appear to have unlawfully executed at least 255 prisoners over the past month in apparent revenge for killings by Islamic State fighters, a Human Rights Watch report said. AGENCIES Gunmen kill 25 women in Baghdad buildings BAGHDAD: Gunmen killed 25 women and wounded at least eight people yesterday when they stormed two buildings in a residential Baghdad compound reputedly used for flesh trade, police and government sources said. Twenty-five women were killed and eight people wounded, among them four men, when gunmen stormed two buildings in a residential compound in Zayouna in east Baghdad, an interior ministry official told. A senior police officer, who said the attackers used silenced weapons, gave the same death toll but reported 11 wounded. Unidentified gunmen stormed building number 43 in Zayouna, killing 10 women and wounding five. They also stormed building number 44, where they killed 15 women and wounded six men, a police colonel said, speaking on condition of anonymity. An correspondent on the scene said police cordoned off the area while eyewitnesses also said several people were arrested in the aftermath of the killings. This is the fate of any..., read an inscription on the door of the one of the raided buildings. Residents said the street s sole access point was manned by police and soldiers. It was not immediately clear who the killers were but similar raids killed 12 people in May 2013 and three women two months later in the same mainly Shia neighbourhood of the Iraqi capital. Shia militias have become more active on the streets of Baghdad since Sunni militants led by jihadist fighters took over large swathes of eastern and northern Iraq a month ago.

9 BERLIN: Chancellor Angela Merkel lamented yesterday the breakdown in trust between Germany and the United States amid a spying row that saw the CIA chief in Berlin expelled from the country. The thing we always have to keep in mind when we are working together is if the person across the table is possibly working for someone else at the same time, that for me isn t a trusting relationship, she told German ZDF television in a pre-recorded interview. Here we obviously have different points of view and we need to talk to one another, Merkel said, adding that she had naturally hoped for a change in Washington s behaviour. The shock move to kick out the US intelligence chief on Thursday followed the emergence of two alleged spying cases within days of each other, re-igniting German fury already on a low boil from another spying scandal last year in which it was revealed that Washington was monitoring Merkel s phone. In the latest case, German police on Wednesday searched the Berlin-area home and office of a man who, local media reported, is a German defence ministry employee accused of passing secrets to the United States. A week earlier, a 31-year-old German BND foreign intelligence service operative had been arrested on suspicion of having sold over 200 documents to the CIA. While Merkel was critical of how the US intelligence services had behaved, she expressed the hope that the damage could be INTERNATIONAL 09 Merkel laments breakdown of trust in spy row Damage with US could be repaired repaired. We no longer live in the Cold War era where everyone is suspicious of everyone. I think the secret services in the 21st century should concentrate on important issues, Merkel said. We work very closely with the Americans and I hope that will continue. In recent days, Washington has hinted at its displeasure with Germany s decision to respond in a highly public manner by expelling the CIA s Berlin chief an unusual display of fury by Germany towards its ally. On Friday, White House spokesman Josh Earnest, who previously declined to go into detail about the row because it touched on intelligence matters, offered an insight into US thinking. Allies with sophisticated intelligence agencies like the United States and Germany understand with some degree of detail exactly what those intelligence relationships and activities entail, Earnest said. Any differences that we have are most effectively resolved through established private channels, not through the media. The scandal has also seen the chancellor come under political pressure at home, with many Germany politicians urging a strong response. She repeated, however, that the espionage affair would not jeopardise negotiations between Berlin and Washington over a transatlantic trade deal. German Foreign Minister Frank- Walter Steinmeier reacted to the scandal by saying he wanted a revived partnership with Washington, based on trust and mutual respect. Ukrainian troops near the eastern town of Seversk yesterday. Ukrainian war planes bombarded separatists along a broad front, inflicting huge losses after President Petro Poroshenko said scores and hundreds would be made to pay for a deadly missile attack on Ukrainian forces. Refugees flee Ukraine rebel bastions DONETSK: Thousands of panicked refugees flooded highways and packed trains heading out of the main remaining rebel strongholds in eastern Ukraine yesterday fearing attacks by government forces who lost 30 soldiers to defiant militants. Separatists killed 19 troops in a hail of heavy rocket fire on Friday near the Russian border in a bloody reminder of their resolve to reverse the recent tide of government gains across the east of the country. The military said four other troops died elsewhere on Friday and seven more were killed overnight in attacks that also left more than 120 soldiers wounded. Ukraine s new Western-backed leader vowed to step up the push east and take revenge on the militias responsible, which could shatter all hopes of a truce. The rebels will pay for the life of every one of our servicemen with tens and hundreds of their own, President Petro Poroshenko told an emergency security meeting. His forces later claimed to have destroyed three rebel bases in air raids on Friday. But reports of heavy losses inflicted on pro- Russian fighters in the attacks on two bases north of Donetsk and one west of Lugansk could not be verified. Poroshenko s militant talk convinced many in the millionstrong eastern industrial hub of Donetsk where gunmen who have been abandoning surrounding cities since last weekend have been retreating that their city was about to be bombed. As many as 70,000 people have already left the city, according to the self-proclaimed rebel prime minister of the city, Alexander Borodai. The mayor of Donetsk rushed out to meet Poroshenko on Friday to discuss measures that could avoid bloodshed and the use of air strikes and heavy artillery. But separatists in control of Ukraine s coal mining capital said locals were not taking any chances after three months of fighting that has claimed 550 lives and sparked the worst East-West standoff since the height of the Cold War. Rebel commander Igor Strelkov told reporters that a spontaneous evacuation was also under way in the neighbouring separatist bastion of Lugansk. Witnesses on the ground reported sporadic artillery fire around Lugansk, whose streets were deserted, with the empty bus station hit in a mortar attack yesterday. I would say that one car in five is filled with refugees, said a young separatist volunteer manning a roadblock around 20km east of Donetsk. Also, Moscow and Kiev traded accusations of sparking a shooting incident near the border, with Russia saying it reserves the right to defend its territory, while a Ukrainian spokesman said Russian troops were three kilometres (two miles) from the border and might be trying to set up a supply corridor. Political talk shows in the city on Friday were buzzing with people questioning tactics and demanding to know why most of the rebels were allowed to slip out of the towns and cities they had abandoned in recent days. Poroshenko had last Saturday proclaimed the seizure of Slavyansk a turning point in a conflict set off by the ousting in February of Ukraine s former Kremlin-backed president, Viktor Yanukovych, and Russia s subsequent seizure of Crimea. In a rare move, EU leaders this weekend joined Russia in trying to dampen Kiev s newfound bravado and convince Poroshenko to launch direct truce talks with the separatists. Italy cruise ship wreck set to rise from waves ROME: The refloating of Italy s ill-fated Costa Concordia cruise ship is set to begin on Monday, with a high-risk salvage operation to raise the rusting hulk ahead of its final journey to the shipyard where it was built. Two-and-a-half years after it sank off the island of Giglio in a nighttime disaster that left 32 people dead, the plan is to raise and tow away the 114,500-tonne vessel in an unprecedented and delicate operation. The most critical phase will be the first day, raising the wreck for the first time. Refloating a passenger ship this large has never been attempted before, South African Nick Sloane, who is in charge of the salvage, said. The 290-metre (950-foot) ship was rotated upright in September and is now sitting on an underwater platform. Thirty tanks or sponsons that have been welded to the sides will work as a pneumatic system to raise it. Under the gaze of the world s media, the operation is expected to start on Monday with workers pumping compressed air into the sponsons to lift the Concordia by two metres. The environmental committee overseeing the operation gave a preliminary go-ahead yesterday but said that final confirmation The wrecked Costa Concordia cruise ship seen off Giglio Island during the preparation of its refloating. would come today, depending on the weather. The operation is to begin at 6am (0400 GMT) tomorrow. In a worst-case scenario, some environmentalists warn the hull could break apart and spill its rotting innards into what is one of Europe s largest marine sanctuaries. We re talking about a floating city kitted out for thousands of passengers, with gallons of pollutants such as oils, detergents and sewage chemicals still inside, said Giorgia Monti from Greenpeace, which is sending an observation team to monitor the operation. After the initial lift, tug boats would drag the wreck 30 metres east and secure it in place before it is slowly buoyed another 10 metres, with engineers checking each deck for fresh structural damage as they emerge. All maritime traffic in the area which includes a popular beach resort will be blocked during the most delicate phases. A team of experts will manage the operation from a control room under the guidance of Sloane, who has described the salvage as his most challenging yet in a career that has taken him to six continents and two warzones. Ship owner Costa Crociere said said that the whole procedure is expected to take six or seven days. Sarkozy hit by new phone tap leaks PARIS: A corruption scandal surrounding former French president Nicolas Sarkozy deepened further yesterday with fresh leaks of telephone conversations purporting to show he offered to get a judge a plum job in return for favours. Sarkozy, who was charged two weeks ago with corruption and influence peddling in a case related to his campaign to win the presidency in 2007, claims he is the victim of a grotesque set-up. He accuses his enemies of using the justice system to undermine a possible political comeback. But according to extracts from tapped calls published by the French daily Le Monde yesterday, the ex-president appeared to lobby for a job for the judge in Monaco in return for his help on one of six bribery and funding scandals in which Sarkozy is embroiled. In intercepted mobile phone calls with his longtime lawyer Thierry Herzog who also faces charges Sarkozy is alleged to have said, I will help him (the judge)... I will get him set up, adding, Call him today and tell him I will sort it out. I am going to Monaco and I will see the prince (Albert). The conversations are alleged to have taken place in February this year on a mobile phone the 59-year-old politician bought using a false name. Sarkozy s lawyer Pierre Haik declined to comment on the new leaks, the latest in a series of damaging revelations to have hit Sarkozy since he left power. The senior magistrate at the centre of the case, Gilbert Azibert, has been charged with illegally passing on information about the a long-running political funding scandal involving the billionaire L Oreal heiress, Liliane Bettencourt. Azibert did not get the position in Monaco, a principality on the Riviera which is largely dependent on France, and has applied to retire. In another alleged extract, Sarkozy told his lawyer to tell the judge that he was meeting that day with Monaco s Minister of State (prime minister) Michel Roger and would keep him informed of how it went.

10 10 INTERNATIONAL Anglican archbishops clash over assisted dying ahead of UK law debate LONDON: The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby has stressed his opposition to assisted dying as one of his predecessors announced he has changed his mind and will now support the right of terminally ill patients to seek help to end their lives. As the House of Lords prepares to consider relaxing the law against helping patients to kill themselves, Welby said it would leave a sword of Damocles hanging over the heads of elderly and sick people. However, George Carey, one of his predecessors as spiritual leader of the Anglican Church, said he would now oppose the official Church of England line by supporting the right to be helped to die. The clash came ahead of Friday s debate on the bill presented by former Labour Lord Chancellor, Charles Falconer, which would allow doctors to prescribe lethal drugs to terminally ill and mentally alert people who want to kill themselves. Assisted suicide remains a criminal offence in Britain punishable by up to 14 years in prison. However, guidelines issued by the Director of Public Prosecutions in 2010 indicated that anyone acting with compassion on the will of a dying person was unlikely to face charges. Rather than risk their lovedones being prosecuted, some 200 Britons have travelled to Switzerland to end their lives over US Navy keeps grounding order for F-35 Jet fire probe still continuing RAF FAIRFORD, ENGLAND: The US Navy on Friday maintained a grounding order for F-35 B-model and C-model fighter jets built by Lockheed Martin Corp, saying it was still not clear what caused a massive engine failure on an Air Force F-35 jet last month. At this time, I do not have sufficient information to return the F-35B and F-35C fleet to flight, Vice Admiral David Dunaway, who heads the Navy s Air Systems Command, said in an update to a fleetwide grounding order issued by US officials on July 3. Dunaway said in the document that he was committed to returning the F-35 fleet to flight as soon as possible, but there was no discernible event that represents a root cause. In the incident on June 23, the Pratt & Whitney engine on an Air Force F-35 A-model jet broke apart and caught fire while a pilot was preparing to take off from a Florida air base. Until the grounding is lifted, the US Marine Corps and Britain will not be able to ferry four F-35B aircraft to Britain for the jet s planned international debut at two air shows there this month the Royal International Air Tattoo, the world s largest military air show that began on Friday, and the Farnborough air show, which starts tomorrow and runs until July 20. It would be a huge embarrassment to the United States if the jets are unable to appear at either air show, and could jeopardise export prospects for the new radar-evading plane just as two initial partners on the programme Canada and Denmark are weighing fresh orders. The engine failure had also prevented the F-35 from making an appearance at the July 4 naming ceremony for Britain s new aircraft carrier. Dunaway said the Navy and other services are continuing to investigate the incident, and planned to update the flight directive no later than July 16 two days after the start of the high-profile Farnborough air show outside London. Lockheed spokesman Michael Rein said the company still hoped the jets could be cleared to fly in time to make the show. We remain hopeful the grounding will be lifted in time for them to appear at Farnborough, he said. Dunaway s memorandum did not rule out the possibility that the most advanced US fighter jet could still appear at the tail end of the Farnborough air show, but the prospects of that occurring appeared to be dimming fast. There are specific additional evaluation conditions required to support the Farnborough air show in the UK, including the ferry flight across the Atlantic and performance in the air show itself. Additional work is required in order to understand and mitigate air show unique risks, it said. Four Marine Corps F-35B jets are waiting at a Maryland air base to fly across the Atlantic, and a UK jet that had been due to join them remains at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. The US jets were ready to fly as soon as the grounding order was rescinded. Dunaway said the current analysis would have to be refocused to potentially meet the timeline for the F-35 s participation in the Farnborough air show. The jets need a full day in Britain to allow for any maintenance or repairs before they participate in flying demonstrations. Dunaway said officials were looking at possible operational restrictions for the jets while the issue was still being investigated, and would also likely implement repeated engine inspections to monitor for any indication of a future problem. US activists protest Gaza bombing the past 15 years at clinics run by the Dignitas association. The bill before the Lords would allow terminally ill patients with a settled intention to end their lives to have doctors prescribe them lethal doses of drugs. Two doctors would have to sign off the fatal dose. Writing in the Times newspaper yesterday, Welby said the opinions of the bill s supporters were mistaken and dangerous. If it became law, he said, many elderly people would be put under pressure to end their lives by friends and relatives with financial gain as their motive. Abuse, coercion and intimidation can be slow instruments in the hands of the unscrupulous, creating pressure on vulnerable US activists gather to protest the Israeli bombing of Gaza during a rally in front of the Israeli Embassy late on Friday in Washington, DC. Several peace groups gathered to protest in front of the embassy to call for an end to Israel s bombing of Gaza. people who are encouraged to do the decent thing, he wrote. What sort of society would we be creating if we were to allow this sword of Damocles to hang over the head of every vulnerable, terminally ill person in the country? In its opposition of the bill, the Church argues protection of life should take priority over personal autonomy. It says an obligation on society, doctors and nurses, to take life or to assist in the taking of life would create a new and unwelcome role. LOCKED-IN SYNDROME But Carey warned that by opposing reform, the Church risks promoting anguish and pain, the Northern Ireland Orange parade very opposite of a Christian message of hope. In an article for the Daily Mail newspaper, he said he had changed his mind after witnessing the suffering of campaigners like Tony Nicklinson, who suffered for years from locked-in syndrome. The father of two campaigned in vain to be allowed the right to die until he passed away two years ago. His distress made me question my motives in previous debates, Carey wrote. Had I been putting doctrine before compassion, dogma before human dignity? The fact is that I have changed my mind. The old philosophical certainties have collapsed in the face of the reality of needless suffering. The stance of Carey, archbishop of Canterbury between 1991 and 2002, was supported by Rabbi Dr Jonathan Romain, chair of Inter Faith Leaders for Dignity in Dying, an alliance of clergy of different faiths in favour of assisted dying. The former archbishop s words are like a breath of fresh air sweeping through rooms cloaked in theological dust that should have been dispersed long ago, he said in a statement. He shows that it is possible to be both religious and in favour of assisted dying. If the bill passes the Lords and reaches the Commons, MPs of most parties are expected to be given a free vote. Police prepare a barricade as the Ligoneil Lodge arrive back to the stopping point on the Woodvale Road, Belfast, Northern Ireland, yesterday, following a parades commission ruling. Reports state that one man was stabbed in fighting in South Belfast between republican and loyalist factions during the parade run-up. The Orange Order celebrates every July 12 to commemorate the 1690 Battle of Boyne, in which Protestant William III of Orange defeated Catholic James II. Bad news is good for US Congress fundraising WASHINGTON: Nothing rallies US grassroots donors quite like a political affront, and Democrats facing a wave of Republican threats are cashing in on the negativity at the height of the 2014 election cycle. Democratic campaign organizers in Washington have seized on major political assaults by Republicans including a demand for President Barack Obama s impeachment by Tea Party heroine Sarah Palin to sweep millions of dollars into their coffers and sign up thousands of new likely voters. Despite Obama s approval rating being in the cellar, and the odds of Republicans taking back the Senate in an off-year election reaching 50-50, the Democratic Party has been the beneficiary of a flood of campaign funds not seen since Republicans were blamed for shutting down the government in October. Republican overreach continues to be a huge motivating factor for our grassroots, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) spokesman Josh Schwerin said. The efforts kicked into high gear shortly after House Speaker John Boehner announced late last month that he was filing a lawsuit against Obama for abusing his executive authority. Days later, a controversial decision by the US Supreme Court allowed employers on religious grounds to opt out of the health care law s mandate to provide contraception coverage. Since Boehner s announcement, the DCCC alone has raised over $3m online, from 157,000 donors, nearly a quarter of them first-time givers. Their best fundraising day of the year came June 30, the day of UTAH: A Utah man has been arrested in connection with a plot to blow up a police station, kill police officers and destroy infrastructure to delay an emergency response, authorities said. John Huggins, 47, believed that the plan, once carried out, would spark an anti-government uprising, according to documents lodged with a Federal Utah court on Friday. Huggins was charged with possession of an unregistered destructive device in connection with the plot, the state s US Attorney s Office said on Friday. The Tremonton Police Department was tipped off to the plot in February and launched an investigation with the FBI, prosecutors said. The probe found that Huggins planned to bomb the station and kill two officers, they said. Huggins also planned to blow up bridges and other infrastructure to slow the emergency response, court documents show. the Supreme Court s 5-4 decision, when over $800,000 poured in. Other Democratic groups cashed in too, including the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. The verdict could be good news for Democrats as they court single female voters. Most young women vote Democratic, and polls show a majority of young women care deeply about contraception coverage. Then there is the issue many mainstream Republicans are wincing over: Palin s call for Obama s impeachment. Boehner quickly said he would disagree with an effort to impeach the president. But Democrats see money in Palin s announcement. About $400,000 has been raised by the DCCC since Tuesday, when the 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee called for Obama to go. Utah man held in bomb plot Huggins stated that he thought that this action would cause the community to rise up against the government, according to an affidavit filed in court. An undercover FBI agent discussed homemade explosive devices with Huggins, who said he planned to train people how to make bombs for a few thousand dollars, prosecutors said. Huggins had in the past made explosive devices that were detonated by a local bomb squad, the affidavit said, though it did not say when. Huggins was arrested on Thursday in the parking lot of a restaurant after agreeing to show the FBI agent a homemade bomb, prosecutors said. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of $10,000 if convicted. The investigation is continuing and he could face more charges, said Melodie Rydalch, a spokeswoman for the US Attorney s office. Texas mass murder suspect collapses in court as crime recounted HOUSTON: The man accused of killing six members of his former wife s family, including four children, at their suburban Houston home collapsed in court on Friday when details of the crime were read aloud and was wheeled out in an office chair by sheriff s deputies. Ronald Lee Haskell, 33, was in court wearing orange prison attire for a hearing after being charged on Thursday with capital murder in the shooting deaths of his former wife s sister, her husband and four of their children, aged 4 to 14. He was being held without bond. Police have said Haskell entered the home on Wednesday posing as a delivery man and searching for his former wife, then methodically executed members of the family. Doug Durham, Haskell s public defender, said his client had been in and out of hospitals in Utah and California with a history of mental illness and that he was not taking prescribed medication at the time of the killings. He was expected to face a hearing on his mental capacity. A grand jury will decide whether he will be tried for capital murder, which carries the possibility of the death penalty. Haskell said Yes, sir to the judge after his rights were read and then fainted to the floor as details of the crime were read in court by the prosecutor. Sheriff s deputies picked him up and wheeled him out of the courtroom in an office chair. Haskell is accused of fatally shooting two boys ages 4 and 14, two girls ages 7 and 9, and their parents Stephen Stay, 39, and Katie Stay, 33. Five of them were dead when found and one of the children died after being airlifted to a hospital. Cassidy Stay, 15, survived a gunshot wound to the head. Cassidy was released from the hospital earlier on Friday and is expected to make a full recovery, the hospital said.

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12 12 ASIA US wants freeze on acts stoking tensions in South China Sea WASHINGTON: The United States said it wants China and rival countries to clamp a voluntary freeze on actions aggravating territorial disputes in the South China Sea. Michael Fuchs, US deputy assistant secretary of state for Strategy and Multilateral Affairs, said no country was solely responsible for escalating tensions in the region. But he reiterated the US view that provocative and unilateral behaviour by China had raised questions about its willingness to abide by international law. Court may end poll deadlock in Indonesia JAKARTA: A day after Indonesia s presidential elections failed to produce a clear winner, Jakarta s police chief promised to prevent violence by cracking down on anyone celebrating prematurely. With both candidates continuing to claim victory, the next leader of the world s third-largest democracy could be decided in court. Wednesday s third direct presidential vote went smoothly, but fears of unrest surfaced after Jakarta Governor Joko Widodo and ex-army general Prabowo Subianto both declared a win after the quick count results were released. The apparent deadlock has raised fears of political instability in the world s most populous Muslim nation and Southeast Asia s biggest economy. It could not only stymie economic development but also stall the nation s young democracy, which has just begun to flourish after decades of authoritarian rule. Widodo, known as Jokowi, came out ahead with 52 percent of the vote, according to the three most credible unofficial quick counts. But Subianto pointed to lesser-known surveys showing he came out on top, but later said he would consider the election Washington wants the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and China to have a real and substantive discussion to flesh out a call for self-restraint contained in a Declaration of Conduct they agreed to in 2002, with a view toward signing a formal maritime Code of Conduct, Fuchs said. We ve called for claimant states to clarify and agree to voluntarily freeze certain actions and activities that escalate disputes and cause instability as described in the DOC, Fuchs told a Authorities vow to prevent violence commission s announcement in two weeks as the only formal result of the election. Both candidates met separately in meetings with outgoing President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Wednesday night. Widodo emerged later to urge supporters, who were setting off fireworks, waving flags and riding motorbikes around the heart of the capital, to stand down. We appeal to the party s members and sympathisers, volunteers and supporters, you don t need to parade to celebrate the presidential election victory. It s better for us to pray and give thanks, he said. Yudhoyono also urged both sides to restrain themselves and not allow their supporters to publicly declare victory. We will not hesitate to take firm action, said Jakarta police chief Major General Dwi Priyatno. He added that security forces were working closely with both camps to anticipate everything that could cause friction among people and lead to massive rash acts. The election commission, which began tallying the votes, will produce the official results by July 22. But if either candidate refutes the outcome due to evidence of fraud or other voting irregularities, the case will Washington think tank, giving details of a proposal he said had been put to both China and Asean states, but which has received little public attention. A US official said the issue was raised again this week with China at the annual Strategic and Economic Dialogue, a bilateral forum that seeks to manage an increasingly complex and at times testy relationship. The official declined to give details of China s response. China claims 90 percent of the South China Sea, which is believed to contain oil and gas deposits and has rich Supporters of Indonesia presidential candidate Joko Jokowi Widodo light candles during a rally calling for an end to Israel s air strikes on Gaza, in Jakarta. go to the Constitutional Court. Subianto, who has ties to the country s political and business elite and was once married to former dictator Suharto s daughter, has already raised concerns about the quick count s legitimacy. The tally is a representative sample of votes cast around the country and civil society organisations have used the method to accurately forecast the results of previous elections. Prabowo-Hatta is leading the real vote count in many regions, Subianto said, referring to his running mate Hatta Rajasa. Some analysts say that in a country plagued by corruption, there is Push for pacifist Japanese to win Nobel Peace Prize TOKYO: Campaigners are pushing for Japan s population to win this year s Nobel Peace Prize in a nod to the country s long-held pacifism, even as Tokyo controversially expands the scope of the military in a move that has sparked protests at home. By Friday, the group had amassed a support petition with more than 150,000 names, and organisers say Japan s 128-million residents are now among the possible candidates for the prestigious award. But even if the odds are slim there are hundreds of candidates the message is just as important, said 37-year-old housewife Naoko Takasu, who came up with the plan. It was not possible to nominate Japan s pacifist constitution put in place after the end of World War II so activists moved to get the peace-loving population on the prize list instead. The idea came to me when I was watching a TV report about the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to the European Union, she said. Good initiatives can win the prize that s what I learned from the news. And that made me think about Article 9 (of the constitution)... If we succeed and win the prize, that would be a great way to share its ideals. Japan s constitution specifically Article 9 renounces war and abandons the use of force to settle international disputes, a point embraced by many Japanese and a symbol of the country s peaceful image. plenty of room for bribery, intimidation or other tactics to sully the official count of more than 140 million ballots that must be transported to regional centres, often from remote areas scattered across Indonesia s archipelago spanning roughly the width of the United States. The Jokowi camp is clearly worried that there will be fraud in the aggregation process, said Jakarta-based political analyst Paul Rowland. There are plenty of opportunities there to change the numbers. Confidence in the Constitutional Court has also recently been shaken, though some are already predicting that s fishery resources. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan also lay claim to parts of the sea, where about $5tr of ship-borne trade passes every year. Recent weeks have seen flare-ups in the disputes, including anti-chinese violence in Vietnam after China s state oil company deployed an oil rig in waters also claimed by Hanoi. Fuchs said deciding what elements were included in a freeze would ultimately be up to the claimants, but these could include recommitting not to Japan braces for more aftershocks TOKYO: Seismologists said an earthquake that struck near Japan s shuttered Fukushima nuclear site early yesterday was an aftershock of the tremor that sparked 2011 s deadly tsunami, and warned of more to come. The strong 6.8-magnitude earthquake off the Pacific coast of northeastern Japan caused a minor tsunami in the early hours, though authorities lifted all weather warnings roughly two hours later. Seismologist Yasuhiro Yoshida of the Japan Meteorological Agency said it Protest on bikes where Indonesia s next president will be decided. Last month, its former chief justice was jailed for life for accepting bribes while ruling on a regional election dispute. Considering victory claims from both candidates, it seems difficult to avoid a legal battle at the Constitutional Court, said Denny Indrayana, deputy minister of law and human rights. The credibility of the Constitutional Court as the last decider of the presidential election s results is at stake. But if it does go that far, others say they believe Subianto, 62, would accept the final ruling. THE PHILIPPINE STAR was a delayed tectonic reaction to the 9.0-magnitude quake which left the Fukushima nuclear power plant in a meltdown crisis after the coast was ravaged by monster tidal waves in March There are fears that relatively large earthquakes will occasionally occur in the ocean area where aftershocks of the great earthquake continue, he said. The aftershock activity has been steadily declining on a long-term basis. But aftershocks, accompanied by tsunamis, will still occur. establish new outposts or seize territory another claimant had occupied before the 2002 declaration. Claimants could also clarify what types of actions were provocative and what were merely efforts to maintain a longexisting presence dating back to before 2002, Fuchs added. For example, alterations that fundamentally change the nature, size or capabilities of the presence could fall under the freeze, whereas routine maintenance operations would be permissible, he said. US carrier s visit to South Korea irks North SEOUL: North Korea yesterday condemned a port visit by a US aircraft carrier to the South as a reckless act of provocation following proposals by Pyongyang to ease cross-border tensions. The USS George Washington arrived in the southern port of Busan on Friday for joint military exercises starting next week. A spokesman of the Policy Department of the North s National Defence Commission said the visit was little short of its gunboat diplomacy in the last century and in defiance of the North s overtures. The US should properly understand that the more persistently it resorts to reckless nuclear blackmail and threat, the further the DPRK (North Korea) will bolster up its cutting edge nuclear force for self-defence, the spokesman was quoted as saying by the North s official Korean Central News Agency. Whenever there was a sign of improving the north-south relations and detente on the peninsula, the US resorted to sinister interference and obstructions, he said in reference to the upcoming drills. The George Washington is scheduled to take part in joint exercises with the South Korean navy from July as part of annual military drills, Seoul s Yonhap news agency said. It will then participate in a search and rescue exercise with South Korean and Japanese maritime forces in waters off the southern island of Jeju for two days starting July 21, it said. The 2011 disaster killed more than 18,000 people. Yesterday s quake measured up to four on the Japanese scale of seven in terms of intensity, and Yoshida said there was a possibility aftershocks measuring a moderate three on that scale would occur in the next two weeks. At least three were injured in the latest quake but there was no damage done to the crippled nuclear plant less than 24 hours after dwindling super typhoon Neoguri skirted the Fukushima region and veered off into the Pacific, officials said. Residents ride their bicycles with placards attached during a demonstration against recent petrol price hikes, in Hanoi on Friday. Vietnam announced a fuel price hike recently, the second in a fortnight.

13 Aquino to address Filipinos on new fund plan Address to focus on uproar caused by previous fund scam and Supreme Court s ruling on DAP MANILA: President Aquino is set to appear on national television tomorrow to explain current national issues that touch upon the principles of good governance, as the controversy over the pork barrel scam and the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) continues to bedevil his administration, Malacañang announced yesterday. Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr said Aquino wishes to talk to his bosses on national television at 6pm. Aquino s address to be delivered from Malacañang is expected to focus on the uproar caused by the pork barrel scam and the Supreme Court s ruling declaring portions of the DAP unconstitutional. His rejection of Budget Secretary Florencio Abad s resignation had also earned him criticism. His TV appearance tomorrow would be his second concerning DAP and the Priority Development Assistance Fund or PDAF, the official term for the congressional pork barrel. He understands the varied reactions to his decision not to accept Secretary Abad s resignation and he would like to engage the people in continuing dialogue that will enable them to understand the key issues better and make informed decisions, Coloma said. Stung by his being labelled pork barrel king by critics, Aquino in October last year Police ask for more funds to guard high-risk inmates MANILA: Malacañang will look into the Philippine National Police (PNP) s request for additional budget in securing alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles and other high-risk detainees. The PNP has cut by more than half its expenses for the court appearances of Napoles from P120,000 to P50,000 per trip. Chief Superintendent Reuben Theodore Sindac, chief of the PNP s Public Information Office, said the amount covered the expenses for Napoles travel from Fort Sto Domingo in Laguna to the Sandiganbayan in Quezon City. The PNP said it had also reduced the number of policemen assigned to escort her to the antigraft court from 120 to around 50 to 70 escorts. lashed out at what he described as attempts by his political foes to muddle the issue concerning PDAF and DAP. It was Abad who revealed that they had assigned funds for lawmakers projects to accelerate spending and spur economic growth after Senator Jinggoy Estrada, one of those indicted in the pork barrel scam for plunder and other charges, accused the Aquino administration of giving them extra allocation a few months after the conviction of then chief justice Renato Corona for betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the Constitution. Estrada said he thought what was given them was pork barrel funds as he was not aware then of funds released through DAP. We are not the same, Aquino said in a televised address to the nation at that time, apparently referring to his predecessor Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her officials. I have never stolen. I am not a thief. He blamed those accused of stealing public funds for sowing confusion and wanting to dismantle everything his administration had worked so hard to achieve. Asked about the public s reaction to Aquino s justification of his rejection of Abad s resignation, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said over radio dzrb that Coloma would be able to give accurate figures. Reports said 93 percent of netizens had expressed disapproval of Aquino s decision. THE PHILIPPINE STAR Deployment ban on all Filipino workers bound for Afghanistan MANILA: Secretary of Labour and Employment Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz has announced that the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) Governing Board has ordered a ban on the processing and deployment of all returning/vacationing overseas Filipino workers bound This is aside from the P150,000 monthly expenses for her food, guards, gas, electricity and other operational expenses at the detention facility. The PNP employs around 50 to 70 policemen tasked to escort her convoy, Sindac said. Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said they will look into the PNP s request. At this point, it is important to say that the PNP will not skirt its responsibility in securing Napoles and other detainees, Valte said over radio dzrb. That will be looked into by the PNP and the DILG (Department of the Interior and Local Government) as to where the budget can be sourced from, she added. Napoles has been detained at the Fort Sto Domingo since last year. for Afghanistan, following the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) issuance of Crisis Alert Level 3 (Voluntary Repatriation Phase) for Afghanistan, where there has been tension following a presidential election. Governing Board Resolution Number 15, Series of 2014, was signed by DOLE Secretary and Sindac said securing high-value detainees like Napoles and Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon Revilla Jr was straining the PNP s purse. He said the PNP spends P40,000 for each court appearance of the three detained senators. Around P27,000 is spent on food for more than 100 police escorts. Meanwhile, President Benigno Aquino convened the Cabinet on Friday for a first-pass review and discussion of the proposed P2.606tr national budget for The proposed budget was 15 percent higher than the 2014 general appropriations to increase allocation for social protection and services, job generation and economic expansion, and climate change adaptation and mitigation. THE PHILIPPINE STAR POEA board Chairman Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz, POEA Administrator and Vice-Chair of the Governing Board Hans Leo J Cacdac, and members Felix M Oca, Estrelita S Hizon, Alexander E Asuncion, and Milagros Isabel A Cristobal. The deployment ban on new recruits for Afghanistan Seized diesel pilfered, replaced with water at Customs store MANILA: Right under the noses of Bureau of Customs (BOC) officials, drums of seized diesel fuel stored at the BOC-Port of Clark (POC) have been pilfered and replaced with water. Customs Commissioner John Sevilla said yesterday it was only last month that he learned about the disappearance of 135 of a total of 156 drums of diesel with an estimated value of over Pm1 that were supposed to have been placed in a secure spot near the POC. As of now, we don t know Animals ride an e-trike PHILIPPINES 13 what happened, except that what was once diesel has become water. We are looking into those who might be held accountable for this irregularity and trying to find out when did this happen and who were on duty at that time, Sevilla said. But the disappearance of the drums did not happen overnight. The irregularity was first uncovered during the term of former Customs commissioner Rufino Biazon. BOC-POC deputy district collector Greg Pineda said there was an on-going internal investigation on the matter and they had asked the Philippine National Police and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to conduct a separate probe. Pineda admitted that some details remained unclear since the pilferage had been happening during the terms of four district collectors. In April 2013, the POC discovered that 65 of the 156 drums had been replaced with water and sludge. THE PHILIPPINE STAR A man drives an electric vehicle with an orangutan and an albino python to promote three-wheeled vehicles called e-trikes. The government is promoting the vehicles to replace petrol-fuelled tricycles. World Cup mania Divers wearing soccer kits of Germany (left) and Argentina play a version of soccer inside an aquarium tank at the Manila Oceanpark yesterday. The two countries will play in the Fifa World Cup 2014 final in Rio de Janeiro today. provided under Governing Board Resolution Number 8 issued on December 17, 2007 is still in effect. In a letter to Baldoz, Secretary of Foreign Affairs Albert E Del Rosario stated that Alert Level 3 is issued when violent disturbances or external aggression occur in a limited area. Filipinos are enjoined to Enrile leaves camp anew for check-up MANILA: After a week in detention, Senator Juan Ponce Enrile again left the Philippine National Police General Hospital for an eye check-up at a hospital in Makati City early yesterday. Police escorted Enrile from the PNP hospital in Camp Crame, where he is being detained, to the Asian Eye Institute. After 30 minutes, Enrile was escorted back to the PNP hospital. The 90-year-old lawmaker is required to undergo a twice-amonth check-up and treatment of his eyes for age-related macular degeneration. Enrile was first brought to the Asian Eye Institute last July 5 for treatment. He was brought again to the eye clinic the following day. During his July 5 visit to the eye clinic, Enrile got an intravitreal aflibercept injection in his right eye, the PNP said. Enrile said his right eye was treated to address macular degeneration, which, if not treated properly, can lead to blindness. Enrile surrendered to the PNP after the Sandiganbayan issued a warrant of arrest on charges of corruption and plunder stemming from the misuse of pork barrel funds. Among the accused with Enrile are Jessica Gigi Reyes, his former chief of staff; Budget Undersecretary Mario Relampagos and his three staff members, Rosario Nuñez, Lalaine Paule and Marilou Bare. THE PHILIPPINE STAR return to the country. However, the cost of repatriation must be borne by their respective companies, Secretary Del Rosario stated in his letter. The Philippine Embassy in Islamabad estimated that there were around 5,250 Filipinos in Afghanistan, mostly working for US contractors. In 2013, POEA records revealed that they were mostly composed of production supervisors and general foremen, production workers, machine fitters and assemblers, stock clerks, engineers, transport equipment operators, electrical wiremen and electrical and engineering technicians. PIA

14 14 VIEWS ESTABLISHED IN 1996 CHAIRMAN SHEIKH THANI BIN ABDULLAH AL THANI EDITOR-IN-CHIEF KHALID AL SAYED ACTING MANAGING EDITOR HUSSAIN AHMAD EDITORIAL TEL: / FAX: / P. O. BOX: 3488, DOHA, QATAR editor@pen.com.qa ADVERTISING: TEL: / 780 FAX: CLASSIFIED: adv@pen.com.qa SUBSCRIPTION / HOME DELIVERY TEL: /839 FAX: distribution@al-sharq.com SUBSCRIPTION RATES: ANNUAL QR MONTHS QR 340 Editorial US spying on Germany G R erman-us relations have been going through a rough patch over spying by US on German soil. Two cases have emerged which made Berlin furious, embarrassing the Obama administration. And unfortunately, Washington doesn t seem to be learning from its mistakes and seems bent on repeating more of the same. The first case was disclosures about National Security Agency surveillance of German communications and the subsequent refusal of the Obama administration to accept Chancellor Angela Merkel s demand for a no-spying agreement. When it was revealed that Merkel s mobile phone had been monitored, President Obama rightly stopped the operation; he had previously ordered a review of foreign spying. But even before the dust has settled, Germany unearthed another spying operation by the US in Berlin using an employee of Germany s intelligence agency who handed over sensitive documents in exchange for financial benefits. Angry again, Merkel s government ordered that the CIA station chief in Berlin leave the country. Germany is a close ally of the US with which the latter wouldn t want any diplomatic stand-off. But Washington s spying operations are so extensive and well-entrenched that it s unlikely to change its ways after Merkel s protests. What surprises most of the world is what makes Washington to spy on its close allies, who pose no threats to its security, who would do everything to protect US Washington has to rethink whether spying operations against its allies are worth the damage they cause. USSIAN PRESIDENT Vladimir Putin might not have been at the old boys club of the western world who met for the G8 summit last month but he has been taking took centrestage with his rather unleader-like conduct and sexist comments. The last couple of weeks has not been a pleasant for Putin. First he got ticked off by former US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton who compared him to Adolf Hitler. A few days before that, Britain s Charles made the same comparison. And as if that was not bad enough, powerful world leaders snubbed him by getting together for a from terrorist or other threats. Washington also fails to realize that such operations against allies are almost certainly not worth the damage caused when they are revealed. More than the fissures in diplomatic relations, it damages US reputation in the world, especially among the people of its allies who would otherwise consider the superpower favourably. A country like Germany and its people are more sensitive about questions of spying and surveillance and it s this sensitivity which is reflected in the virulent reaction of German politicians to the latest revelations. German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaüble, said, So much stupidity just makes you want to cry. Some other US allies would have reacted less seriously and wouldn t have resorted to the expulsion of US officials. According to a Washington Post report, in spite of the review ordered by Barack Obama, the CIA has failed to shut down low-value spying operations whose exposure was bound to cause embarrassment. The president will have to try harder to make sure that his orders are implemented and save the country from more embarrassment. Berlin has a pro-us government whose cooperation is vital in many areas. The current strain in relations should prompt US to rethink its spying operations. It will be interesting to watch how the Merkel government would react to another discovery of US spying operation on German soil The other side Putting Putin in his place power-packed lunch diplomacy, sending out a clear signal to the former KGB boss that his attempts to destabilise Ukraine and his annexation of Crimea was not acceptable. Putin s on-again, off-again cycle of ceasefires in Ukraine has won him more enemies than friends and he is now under intense pressure to ensure the ceasefire is not broken it has been widely ignored so far lest it results in a full-scale frontal war against Ukraine in which all parties will stand to lose. It s not just in Ukraine where he is pushing boundaries. The line was crossed again recently when a fuming Putin tore into his lady rival, Hillary BY RYAN CROCKER, WILLIAM LUERS AND THOMAS PICKERING A Clinton on French television, embarrassing his host enough to gently remind him that women do need to be respected. They were justified if you consider that he had not very flattering comments about Clinton, who might well create history as the first female President of the USA, come This is what he had to say about her: It s better not to argue with women. But Mrs Clinton has never been too graceful in her statements. When people push boundaries too far, it s not because they are strong but because they are weak, he said, adding, But maybe weakness is not the worst quality for a woman. He was, obviously, n Arab proverb advises, A problem is solved when it gets tougher. Illustrating that point, the advance in Iraq and Syria of the Islamic Stateposes a threat to the United States while clarifying choices for US policymakers. The question confronting the United States and Iran is no longer whether to work together but how to do so. And in light of decades of distrust and animosity, communications between the two countries can be greatly facilitated by reaching a comprehensive nuclear agreement in talks underway in Vienna. Failure, however, would leave only bad options. If the Islamic State is to be contained, the United States and other nations will have to reconsider past policies and manage enmities. For Iran, the breakup of Iraq and the creation of a radical Islamist Sunni state next door would be catastrophic. Iranian leaders now must decide whether to join Iraqi Shiites in a bloody sectarian war or, along with the use of force, work with others to build a federalized Iraq in which ethnic groups share in the responsibilities and benefits of statehood. Meanwhile, after years of clandestinely supporting radical Sunni Islamists throughout the Middle East, the Persian Gulf monarchies face a choice between denouncing the Islamic State, which poses a significant threat to them as well, or continuing to emphasize the referring to Clinton s reputation of being a tough woman who minces no words. The two have met when she was the US Foreign Secretary where, Putin said, they had exchanged cordial relations. Hillary Clinton has chosen to keep silent on Putin s slight on French television. Putin s comments, predictably, created a furor, with admirers of the former First Lady rushing to her defense. French President Francoise Hollande s former partner, Vallerie Trierweiler was quick to land a reprimand, tweeting: Happy not to have to shake hands with Putin. KHALEEJ TIMES sectarian struggle with the Shiites. In Syria, the choice for Bashar Assad s government is either to turn its military power against the Islamic State or to continue to kill fellow Syrians. It makes no sense for the West to support a war against Assad as well as a war against the Islamic State. Assad is evil, but in this case he is certainly the lesser evil. The Turkish leadership seems to have decided already to support Kurdish military action against the Islamic State, choosing to risk enabling more independence for the Kurds given that the alternative is a radical Islamist regime on its border. Israel, too, must see that this violent Islamist turbulence requires it to reconsider which foreign power represents its most serious threat. Iran and the United States share interests in Iraq and Afghanistan. Iran s intelligence network, religious identity, political influence, history and geography give it a pre-eminent role in both countries. At the same time, U.S. air power, special forces, military advisers, recent history and a commitment not to waste the lives and money the United States invested in both places likewise assure that it has a major part to play. While some direct, low-key talks on Iraq have already taken place, the nuclear negotiations must be resolved before the United States and Iran will agree to have regular talks on the issue. Any such discussions must also be sensitive to the reactions of Sunnis, particularly those in Iraq who loathe Iran. Both sides are clearly committed to making a maximum effort to get a nuclear agreement by July 20, and a good accord is within reach. Despite the expectations of many observers, remarkable headway has been made. Iran has already met most of the demands of the six nations involved in the talks, and the sides are working to establish a practical time frame for Iran to comply with limits on its nuclear program under extraordinary monitoring and safeguards. The negotiations have been more civil than anyone imagined a year ago. But important perhaps deal-breaking details regarding the ultimate size and scope of Iran s peaceful nuclear program remain unresolved. A breakdown of the talks still a possibility would revive the specter of military conflict and result in the Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate Common cause with Iran A new strategic relationship between the United States and Iran may seem impossible and risky, yet it is also necessary and in the interests of both. While an alliance is out of the question, mutually informed parallel action is essential. Quote of the day I don t think we deserved for it to end like this. We need to apologise to the fans, they booed us at the end, which is normal, they have feelings too. It s very tough. If the Islamic State is to be contained, the United States and other nations will have to reconsider past policies and manage enmities. collapse of the worldwide alliance that helped bring Iran to the table. It would make bilateral communications impossible, with both sides blaming the other. As the U.S.-built coalition crumbled, Iran might succeed in establishing its own trade and political relationships with Russia, China and Western Europe. Failure would also undermine the hopes for Iranian President Hassan Rouhani s government and could lead to the removal from office of those Iranian leaders who have sought to put the confrontational Ahmadinejad era behind them. A new strategic relationship between the United States and Iran may seem impossible and risky, yet it is also necessary and in the interests of both. While an alliance is out of the question, mutually informed parallel action is essential. Another Arab proverb advises, At the narrow passage there is no brother or friend. Indeed, as we enter a new era of Middle East conflict, the path is narrow and fraught, and the United States will have to work with many strange bedfellows. But with the right nuclear agreement and pragmatic strategic decisions by Tehran and Washington, there is a way forward. WP-BLOOMBERG Ryan Crocker, a former US ambassador to Iraq and Afghanistan, is dean of the George Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University. William Luers, a former US ambassador to Venezuela and Czechoslovakia, is director of the Iran Project. Thomas Pickering was US undersecretary of state for political affairs from 1997 to 2000 and ambassador to the United Nations from 1989 to Thiago Silva Brazilian football captain

15 BY JANE HARMAN W hat, exactly, does the US stand for in the Middle East? More important, what would the average Iraqi, Syrian, Egyptian or Yemeni say that it stands for? The suggestion that the US is retrenching might seem absurd, given that Yemenis can hear the buzz of drones overhead. The notion that the US is in the business of supporting democratic pluralism might clash with their reading of our Egypt strategy or our will-theyor-won t-they waffling over whether to actively support Syrian opposition fighters. Day by day, with chaos blossoming, it becomes clearer that if we do have a strategic narrative for the Middle East, we certainly have not articulated it effectively. In marketing terms, we are not making the sale. Other nations could be forgiven for failing to grasp our priorities and values. Don t do stupid [stuff] may make sense to the American public, but it means little to the rest of the world, and it means nothing to those vulnerable to the evangelism of groups such as the Islamic State, now choosing between the VIEWS 15 America is losing the message war Day by day, with chaos blossoming, it becomes clearer that if we do have a strategic narrative for the Middle East, we certainly have not articulated it effectively. Demonstrators dressed as detainees protest against the US military detention facility in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in front of the US Supreme Court in Washington on January 11, difficult work of politics and the terrible promise of jihad. What role will US foreign policy play in their choice? Have they come to see US power as a threat? Or have they seen firsthand the capacity of US aid workers, nongovernmental organisations and men and women in uniform to serve as partners in their aspirations for a better life? If we don t think seriously about the way our strategy plays out in the eyes and lives of such people if we don t think about the narrative we will lose them for a generation. This cuts to the core of the policy challenges we face in Iraq and Syria. Many wonder, with good reason, how we can reliably identify moderates to arm and aid, questioning whether today s moderates will turn out to be tomorrow s extremists. We know with certainty, though, that the Islamic State and militant groups like it will fill their ranks with those who have been given no reason to trust in politics, let alone nonviolence. Preventing radicalisation is difficult; deradicalising hard-line believers is nearly impossible. So it is smart for nations such as the US, Turkey and Jordan to build relationships with resistance leaders and invest in them as a tool to preempt extremism. The US, acting in coalition with regional partners, should offer a better choice. Our commitment to this narrative must be active, visible and credible, keeping in mind that the prison at Guantanamo Bay hobbles our pitch, as torture did, and as the drone campaign threatens to do if it is not better justified. It s not enough for US policymakers to come down from the mountain with stone tablets bearing the words pluralism, rule of law and human rights. While Adm. Mike Mullen was chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, he assigned two staff members the task of drafting a new US strategy. The result was A National Strategic Narrative, released publicly by the Wilson Centre in We protected the identities of its authors under the pseudonym Mr Y, a nod to George Kennan s outline for containment in his iconic X-article. That narrative seems prescient now for its description of the new strategic environment first and foremost, because it emphasised the need to work with other nations to design a common approach in an open world. The narrative rightly declared an end to an order in which the US could seek control and the beginning of a system in which we would need to compete for influence. We need a foreign policy that reflects the bold clarity of these findings. The goal is a strategy shaped together with the Middle Eastern world: leaders and peoples alike, borrowing the best impulses of the bottom-up Arab Spring and the traditionally top-down US approach to engagement. Our promise to the Middle East must be one in which collaboration helps the people of the region achieve shared values by a route of their own choice. Make no mistake: We risk losing the argument. The Islamic State is mastering information warfare; it has a savvy Twitter presence and a glossy newsletter that highlights battlefield successes alongside of all things the work of its consumer protection authority. It has declared a hasty, heady victory in pursuit of its ultimate goal: the 7th-century caliphate restored. Its message has gained a frighteningly broad following. What to do? Many perceive drones plus don t do stupid [stuff] is our foreign policy, and it certainly isn t an adequate narrative. For every jihadist our airstrikes might kill, left behind are scores of Iraqis and Syrians whose only contact with the US came by way of a Hellfire missile. Instead, we need a track two surge, a dynamic partnership with Middle Eastern citizens seeking stability, economic growth and freedom from corruption. Such a surge would be international, drawing on the interests of neighbouring states in preventing the spread of extremism. It would also be a whole-government initiative, drawing on considerable US resources in the field of peace-building. The US must put itself forward as the partner of choice, offering a narrative of forward movement and a genuine lifeline to those slipping into the grasp of jihad. WP-BLOOMBERG What is the reason of Iran s hold on Iraq? The current political order cannot reform itself; new professional talent must be brought in from outside the government. BY CHARLES A DUELFER and SAMIR S SUMAIDAIE I raq has imploded. The extremists from the group that recently renamed itself the Islamic State represent a mortal threat to the country and the broader region, and neither Baghdad nor Washington can remove this malignancy by military means alone. It can be excised only in concert with local Sunni populations that now either harbour the Islamic State or tolerate it because it is seen, misguidedly, as a means of salvation from a loathsome, oppressive central government. Sunnis do not seek to rule Iraq, but they will no longer tolerate discrimination. Since coming to power, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki has treated elections under the newborn Iraqi democratic system as a winner-take-all proposition leaving the Sunni population increasingly convinced that it stands to lose all. Maliki and his cronies have politicised key institutions, including the army, which has collapsed under the leadership of corrupt, unqualified officers as the Islamic State s fighters have advanced. Pouring resources into such a force without reform will not produce good results. Therefore, to defeat this threat, it is essential to give Sunni communities a stake in a new, cleaner and more just national government that does not treat them as secondclass citizens. The policy of the US must have this truth as its foundation. There are key points about Iraq that may not be apparent to decision-makers in Washington. Most Iraqis still identify themselves as Iraqis first and foremost; the use of sectarianism as a political tool has created polarisation not previously seen in Iraq, but this is reversible. Although there is residual concern in Iraq that many Sunnis, especially former Iraqi army and Baath Party members, seek a return to authoritarian rule by a Sunni strongman (Saddam Hussein redux), this is a myth that suits Maliki. The large majority of Baath Party members in the old regime were simply professionals or military men who participated in the party because it was the only way to pursue their careers. And for all of the horrors of Saddam s leadership, the Baath were steadfastly secular. They are natural foes of the Islamic State, not allies. Recent reports of the Islamic State killing senior former Sunni military leaders is evidence that it recognises this vulnerability. It is likewise a myth, in this case propagated by Sunni extremists, that most Iraqi Shia are loyal to Iran. Thousands of Iraqi Shias died fighting in the Iraq-Iran war in the 1980s. The Shias in Iraq are mostly Arab, and Iranians are mostly Persian. Like people everywhere, Iraqis identities are multifaceted; only a portion have sectarian affiliations. People continue to talk of a national unity government as a solution to the grave problems facing Iraq, but this approach has already failed. For 10 years, Iraq has had governments formed with quotas of ministers from different communities. But ministers not from Islamist Shia parties were undermined by the flooding of their departments with appointees from approved parties. Such ministers became hood ornaments. The same applies in the armed forces, universities, the media and other nominally independent Iranians protest against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) on June 24, 2014 at Imam Hossein Square in Tehran. institutions that were brought under the prime minister s control. What is needed, instead, is a government of national salvation, headed by a prime minister acceptable to all communities and girded by checks and balances to ensure that the new political order will be free from discrimination. Such a government must represent genuine, substantive change away from sectarianism. The current political order cannot reform itself; new professional talent must be brought in from outside it. But it seems that Iran is having none of that. Reports from inside the government indicate that Iran has vetoed all Shia nominees to the prime minister s post who are remotely acceptable to Sunnis or secular Shia. That means the crisis will continue and a fire that could otherwise be extinguished by an Iraqi political solution will spread. The question now is whether the US has the will to do what is necessary to allow Iraqis to freely arrive at a political solution and prevent Iran from blocking it. Left to their own devices, Iraqis would have a chance of solving their problems and rolling back the Islamic State. But they do not. Everyone in the region wants to influence events, but only Iran has gone so far as to block the compromise that is needed to bring Sunnis into the tent. Iran s stranglehold on Baghdad s political process must be broken. If it is not, a big chunk of a fragmented Iraq, with vast reserves of oil, could turn into a vassal state of Iran following a civil war, with all of its misery and devastation. Washington needs to cut off Maliki. Period. To counter Iran, it also needs to assign a respected and experienced American representative who has real authority and is empowered to achieve the essential goal of defeating the Islamic State. This representative acting in a role similar to the one that the late Richard Holbrooke played in Afghanistan and Pakistan in 2009 and 2010 needs to meet with opinion leaders in the Shia and, especially, Sunni communities. Sunnis must be convinced by action and deed that Washington will not abandon the principle of inclusion. The envoy needs to make deals and deliver. The situation in Iraq is very bad but still solvable. The Islamic State is the present danger, but it is a symptom of the root problem: A sectarian clique has subverted a nascent democratic system for its own benefit. Because of this, the local Sunni populations, who have no predisposition for anything the Islamic State represents, do not yet have sufficient incentive to eliminate it. That must be changed. WP-BLOOMBERG Australia not as close to UK as it should be BY JOHN HOLMES and MICHAEL FULLILOVE I t is hard to think of two countries that have more in common than Australia and Britain. We share a language and a rich history and, in the main, a sense of humour. We are both maritime trading nations. Australia inherited many fine British institutions including parliamentary democracy and the common law. Yet, as a recent Lowy Institute poll demonstrates, too often the relationship is focused on the past rather than the future, on sentiment rather than shared interests. More than eight in 10 Australians see the Australia-Britain bilateral relationship as important (with 28 percent saying it is very important ). However, when asked to choose Australia s best friend from a list of six countries, respondents ranked Britain third in popularity behind the US and New Zealand. And when those who saw the relationship as important were asked why, two-thirds said it was because of the strong historical and cultural ties between our two countries. This is a good time, therefore, for our two nations to move beyond history, culture and cricket, and focus our relationship on our shared interests in the region towards which the world s wealth and power is shifting rapidly: Asia. One vehicle for doing so is the Australia-UK Asia dialogue, which was recently announced by Australian foreign minister Julie Bishop and British foreign secretary William Hague this year, and cohosted in Britain by the Ditchley Foundation and the Lowy Institute. This brought together experts and high-level officials from the two countries, and while the proceedings were private, we can convey our personal impressions as cochairmen. Our two countries come at Asia from different geographic angles, yet we both have long histories in the region and deep knowledge of it. Our experience and analyses are complementary, and we should make more of them. We must think about the region as a whole, and tend carefully and pay more attention to our relations with Japan, Indonesia, India, South Korea and Vietnam. Both Australia and Britain are allies of the US indeed we are arguably Washington s two most reliable allies. We both believe that American leadership remains of immense benefit to the world, and that right now more is needed, not less. We both support the strategic logic of Barack Obama s rebalance towards Asia, but are concerned that America s strategic discipline on this should not waver. Australia and Britain have important and legitimate stakes in the Asian strategic order no doubt more than our publics tend to assume. Both our nations benefit enormously from the region s prosperity, underwritten by a rules-based order and the US strategic presence. But we cannot be passive bystanders, simply hoping to sell as much as we can. Both our nations have much to contribute to Asian security, from counter-piracy and the search for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 in the Indian Ocean to typhoon relief in the Philippines and our partnership with Singapore, Malaysia and New Zealand through the five-power defence arrangements. Our navies have strong traditions of conducting defence diplomacy and helping other countries build capacity to face their own challenges, including in intelligence and counter-terrorism. We should not hesitate to speak out when commitments and values are undermined by developments in the region. Asia is undergoing major strategic and political change, including an uptick in Chinese maritime assertiveness, the normalisation of Japan s defence position, and leadership transitions in the region s two largest democracies, India and Indonesia. This is precisely the time for regional and global partners, such as Australia and Britain, to look for creative new ways to work together and with regional partners to help contribute to Asia s prosperity and stability. Our dialogue aims to do just that. THE GUARDIAN

16 16 PAKISTAN / AFGHANISTAN Afghan roadside bomb kills eight Blast follows Taliban s directive to insurgents to avoid targeting civilians KANDAHAR: Eight civilians including five women were killed when a roadside bomb blew up their vehicle in southern Afghanistan, local officials said yesterday. The United Nations said this week that the Afghan war was inflicting an increasingly devastating toll on civilians, with the number of casualties rising by almost a quarter in the first half of this year. They were travelling from Pajwai district to Kandahar City to visit a doctor and do some shopping for the upcoming Eid Al Fitr (Muslim holiday), said Dawa Khan Minapal, a spokesman for provincial governor. But their vehicle was targeted by a roadside bomb freshly planted by the Taliban and this tragedy happened. He added: Their dead bodies are still in the area and police have already transferred two wounded children from the site to a provincial hospital. An interior ministry statement confirmed the blast and said the victims belonged to one family. The incident took place days after the Taliban ordered their men to avoid targeting civilians. There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but roadside bombs are a common weapon used by the Taliban, though attacks that kill civilians often go unclaimed. In a similar incident in the eastern city of Jalalabad two people were killed when a remote control bomb went off. The target was an army vehicle but it escaped unharmed, said Abdul Zia Abdulzai, a spokesman for the provincial governor. According to a UN report released Wednesday, civilian casualties in Afghanistan soared by 24 percent to 4,853 in the first half of 2014 compared to the same period in Ground combat is now causing more deaths and injuries than improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in a worrying sign of spreading conflict, the UN report said, with women and children increasingly caught in the crossfire. The grim figures underline the fragile security situation Afghanistan faces as it wrestles with political turmoil over its disputed presidential election, with most foreign forces due to withdraw by the end of the year. Kerry pushes plan to clean up disputed Afghan vote KABUL: US Secretary of State John Kerry scrambled to produce a deal by the end yesterday to end Afghanistan s election crisis, meeting for the second day with the country s two presidential candidates and incumbent President Hamid Karzai. The deadlock over the June 14 election run-off between the leading contenders, Abdullah Abdullah and Ashraf Ghani, has raised concerns in Washington about a smooth transition of power in Afghanistan just as US troops are withdrawing. Kerry and his aides met throughout the night, following talks on Friday with both Abdullah and Ghani, as well as with Karzai and UN special envoy US Secretary of State John Kerry to Afghanistan Jan Kubis. He met again with Abdullah and Ghani at the US compound yesterday and will meet Karzai at the presidential palace later. A news conference is scheduled Security officials inspect the site of the blast that targeted an Afghan Army vehicle in Jalalabad yesterday. for yesterday afternoon before Kerry flies to Vienna for talks between world powers and Iran on Tehran s nuclear programme. Preliminary results from the runoff vote put Ghani, a former World Bank official, in the lead by almost one million votes. Abdullah rejected the result, claiming widespread fraud and calling the outcome a coup against the Afghan people. The United States has urged the Independent Electoral Commision not to release the final vote tally until a thorough review of the votes. It also urged the camps of both Ghani and Abdullah not to declare victory. As talks unfolded behind closed doors, the rival camps were Oil tanker crash tight-lipped on the progress. In this meeting they both exchanged ideas, said Mahmoud Saikal, a key member of Abdullah s camp, speaking about the Friday meeting. John Kerry wanted more information about all electoral problems. Discussions between Kerry and the Afghan parties have so far focused on the technical details of the election process and the scope of an audit of the votes that would be acceptable to both sides. It has also looked at ways in which Afghanistan could set up an inclusive and broad-based government. US officials declined to elaborate on the possibility of a unity government, an idea both candidates have rejected, according to a US official. This is a divided nation along many lines and it s very important at this stage in this society to ensure that we build as inclusive and as broad-based and as unified a national government as possible, a senior administration official. It was a close election, regardless of what happens and what the audit comes back and finds. We need to ensure that all communities and constituencies identify themselves in the government and feel represented in the government that ultimately takes over, the official added. In comments to reporters on Friday, Kerry said the transition to a self-reliant state hung in the A Ranger soldier (right) walks past an oil tanker after it skidded and crashed into a side grill of a bridge in Karachi yesterday. The tanker carrying 8,000 litres of diesel was speeding, according to local media. There were no reports of casualties. No fresh data on HIV patients in Islamabad ISLAMABAD: An official of the Ministry of National Health Services yesterday informed a National Assembly (the lower house) subcommittee that the country had 83,443 cases of HIV but only 9,917 had been registered with hospitals and other government departments. He said out of registered cases, only 4,985 people were being treated at various hospitals. There is no fresh data as the 83,443 figure of HIV infected people is based on estimation and has been quoted till December 2013, he said. Dr Baseer Khan Achakzai, director programme at the ministry, told the meeting that the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had registered most cases at the airport when deportees from different countries arrived. Some cases came to the surface during blood donation when blood was screened. But the government does not know the whereabouts of almost 5,000 registered patients. Moreover, there is no information about over 75,000 HIV infected people whether they are getting treatment or not, the official said. He said many HIV infected people were deported from the Middle East but they did not reveal their condition. INTERNEWS balance unless the legitimacy of the election could be restored. US officials said several ideas were being discussed and that an overall proposal had not yet been presented by the Americans. Kerry cautioned both sides against abandoning efforts to reach a compromise, the US official said. Washington has warned of repercussions if either side declares victory and tries to grab power. The United States is in the process of withdrawing its forces from Afghanistan after 12 years of fighting Taliban insurgents, but the country remains dependent on foreign aid. The US is Afghanistan s biggest foreign donor. Property, water taxes raised in Islamabad ISLAMABAD: The prime minister Nawaz Sharif has approved a summary to increase property and water taxes in the urban areas of Islamabad. However, a final decision will be taken by the federal cabinet. After the approval by the cabinet, property tax would be increased by 100 percent for commercial buildings. But tax for small residential units would be increased by around 20 percent. Sources in the civic body said that the average increase in the property tax would be 60 percent. However, combined additional collections from water and property taxes would be up to Rs500m per annum, said a senior official of the finance department. INTERNEWS Taliban attack kills 3 Pakistani soldiers KHAR: Militants killed at least three Pakistani soldiers in an attack early yesterday on a border post in the restive northwestern tribal belt, officials said. Around two dozen militants armed with sophisticated weapons crossed from the Afghan province of Kunar to launch the predawn ambush in Bajaur district, Pakistani officials said. "Militants from across the border ambushed a check post. Two security personnel and an officer embraced martyrdom in the attack," a security official in Bajaur said by telephone. A senior government official said the militants were forced to flee after troops retaliated. No group has yet claimed responsibility but both officials said Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants were involved in the attack. "It might be in retaliation for the Pakistan military offensive in North Waziristan," the government official said. A senior military official in Peshawar, the region's main city, confirmed the attack and death toll and said that the troops were killed when a rocket hit a vehicle near the check post. "Two soldiers were wounded and taken to the main hospital in Bajaur," he said. Hardline cleric Maulana Fazlullah, current head of the TTP which rose up against the Pakistani state in 2007, is believed to be possibly hiding across the border in Kunar. Pakistan's armed forces have been waging a massive offensive in North Waziristan, a tribal district south of Bajaur, for the past three-and-a-half weeks to eradicate hideouts militants have used to launch attacks across the restive nucleararmed country. The army says it has killed 400 insurgents in the course of the operation there. Another security official in Peshawar said yesterday that ground troops were pounding militants hideouts with artillery and mortars in the mountainous Dehgan area, some 25 kilometres west of Miranshah.

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18 18 INDIA Universities vie for Nepali students 20,000 students obtain permission KATHMANDU: At least 50 Indian universities and colleges are vying for students from Nepal at a time when the number of Nepali students seeking admission in Indian educational institutions has seen a sharp rise. According to Nepal s Education Ministry, over 20,000 Nepali students obtained no objection letters to pursue higher education in various Indian universities and academic institutions last year. The trend is showing an upward trajectory and the numbers are likely to be up this year too, according to the ministry. The ministry figures have come even as the Eighth India Education and Career Fair 2014 kicked off in Kathmandu Friday to showcase higher education opportunities for Nepali students in India. India has been the first choice of Nepali students for higher studies for a long time now for many reasons. First, India is the only country that allows a hassle-free entry to Nepali students as no visa is required, said Sanjay Thapa, founder and managing director of SAPE, a Kolkata-based event management company. Second, India s proximity to Nepal and affordable tuition fees, the cultural closeness makes parents feel more secure about their wards, which is the main reason for the increasing number of students heading for India. Third, parents who wish to send their children to India rather than distant places can visit the academic institutions before enrolling their wards. During the decade-long people s war in this Himalayan nation from 1996 to 2006, there was a huge surge of Nepali students in Indian schools. The trend never stopped as now, due to the political stability and five percent annual economic growth, many parents have started sending their children to various Indian schools despite the financial burden. Most of the students who go to India prefer engineering and information technology, followed by management and nursing. Information is also sought on admissions for Nepali students in premier Indian educational institutions like IITs, IIMs and AIIMS. Pragyik Vidyarthi Parishad, Nepal, recently submitted a memorandum to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, through India s Ambassador to Nepal, Ranjit Ray. The Parishad also demanded that separate entrance examinations be arranged in Kathmandu for Nepali students aspiring to enter these institutions. India has been an education hub for Nepalis ever since the gurukul system of education started. The trend accelerated with the progress in the education system after the beginning of formal education some 200 years ago. IANS Indian dance in Tunisia The Indian dance troupe Bollywood Express perform during the 50th edition of the International Festival of Carthage at the Roman Theatre of Carthage in Tunis yesterday. Afghan vote should bring unity: New Delhi NEW DELHI: Amid the impasse in the Afghan presidential election, India yesterday said the process should become a source of unity, not of discord and that New Delhi counts on the wisdom of the Afghan people and the candidates to find an amicable solution in the country s larger interests. Answering a query on the Afghan election, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said India has consistently stood with the Afghan people in their quest to build a peaceful, stable, united, democratic and prosperous Afghanistan. We hope that the final outcome of the Will it rain? presidential election will be in accordance with the constitution and the electoral laws of Afghanistan, including on the use of mechanisms for redressing election-related complaints and grievances, Akbaruddin said. This will ensure that the election is broadly acceptable to the people of Afghanistan, he added. He said a credible, peaceful and transparent election, accepted by all, and leading to a smooth political transition was essential for the Afghans to achieve the goal and preserve the enormous gains they have made in the past decade in the face of formidable Failing crop, debt burden drive farmers to protest NAGPUR: Nearly 1,000 farmers, including many women, staged a day s hunger strike and sit-in protest demanding minimum support price for cotton and waiver of farm loans in Vidarbha region of Maharashtra, an NGO leader said here yesterday. The protest at Yavatmal came in the wake of rains eluding the Vidarbha region where farmers had sowed cotton and soyabean twice and many were now resorting to a third sowing, incurring heavy debts. According to NGO Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti (VJAS) chief Kishore Tiwari, over 800,000 farmers in the region have become victims of little or no rain as the cotton sowing season is in full swing. They sowed seeds bought from loans early June. But after the crop rotted without rains, many again availed loans for a second sowing late June, which met the same fate. Some are now going for a third sowing, hoping rains will revive in July, but so far the sky is clear, Tiwari told IANS. Lack of rainfall has destroyed the cotton and soyabean seeds in over two million hectares across Vidarbha, even as the spectre of drought looms large, he said. Last year, Maharashtra topped the list of farmland suicides with 3,146 deaths. IANS A farmer walks with her cattle against the backdrop of monsoon clouds on the outskirts of Agartala, capital of the northeastern state of Tripura, yesterday. Monsoon rainfall was 41 percent below average for the week ended July 9, the weather office said on its website, the fifth straight week of poor rains after a late start to the season. Two accused flee as police attacked SRINAGAR: Two people arrested in connection with a landmine blast escaped while six members of the police team escorting them were injured after being attacked by a stone throwing mob here yesterday, police said. The six policemen including the station house officer (SHO) of Gursai police station in Poonch district of Jammu region were attacked when they were taking two people accused in a landmine blast to Poonch district. Police sources said the team of policemen from Poonch district had come here with an accused from Balakote (Mendhar) town of Poonch who had revealed during interrogation that he had bought the landmine, used to destroy an official building June 25, from a resident of Batmaloo area here. On identification by the accused, the police team arrested the man who had allegedly sold the landmine that was used in destroying the naib tehsildar s office in Balakote. When the team was moving in a vehicle in Munawarabad area along with the two arrested accused, they were attacked by a stone pelting mob that injured the police team. The two accused managed to escape in the chaos. A case has been registered and a manhunt has been launched to arrest the accused. The injured policemen have been shifted to hospital for treatment, a police officer said. IANS odds. Therefore, at this critical juncture of multiple transitions for Afghanistan, the election process should become a source of unity, not of discord, Akbaruddin said. He said India has deeply admired the democratic commitment shown by the people of Afghanistan in the presidential election, despite widespread threats of violence. We count on the wisdom of the Afghan people, the government and the election machinery of Afghanistan and, above all, the two candidates to find an amicable solution for smooth completion of the election process in Afghanistan s larger interest, he said. IANS Fewer smokers won t affect tobacco farmers, says minister NEW DELHI: Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said yesterday that getting people to quit smoking will not impoverish farmers in tobacco growing regions but will rather help them earn more and free themselves from the clutches of money lenders. In a statement, Vardhan said the ministry is willing to share with the government and all concerned groups the findings of scientific research conducted by reputed institutions which unambiguously proves that viable alternatives to tobacco cultivation exist. We have carried out pilot projects on alternative cropping systems to tobacco which we are willing to share with tobacco growing states. It will be proved that farmers will get better incomes from cultivating sugarcane, a variety of vegetables, pepper, fruits and mustard on the lands currently taken up by tobacco, said Vardhan. The minister also said that though the additional earnings to the exchequer from tobacco is significant, the economic cost of smoking is far greater. There are people who argue that India earns more than $500m per year through tobacco exports. To them I say, look at the net economic cost. The WHO has estimated that in India it amounts to $ 1.7bn. This cannot be tolerated any longer, he added. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has estimated that the direct medical cost of treating tobacco related diseases in India amounts to $907m for smoked tobacco and $285m for smokeless tobacco, said the statement. The minister said that a multidisciplinary drive against tobacco is being considered by his ministry because the overarching objective of saving thousands of lives may not be entirely achieved by simply taxing tobacco consumers. IANS

19 INDIA Govt trying to control rising plane fares Visas to India may become cheaper PANAJI: Efforts are being made to control rising air fares during the holiday season and to slash visa rates to compete with cheaper tourism destinations, Tourism Minister Shripad Naik said yesterday. The union minister of state for tourism (independent charge) was referring to cheaper destinations in South East Asia, Maldives and Sri Lanka. He was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a tourismrelated event on the outskirts of Panaji. Asked if the government was working on ways to rein in increasing air fares to sought after beach tourism destinations like Goa during the peak holiday season, Naik said the ministry was trying to control the air fares. During December and January, which represent the peak tourist season in Goa, domestic air fares to and from the state are often in excess of Rs25,000 which is more than the international airfare to Bangkok, in Thailand, from any Indian metro. Naik also said the federal government was trying to work out a cheaper tourist visa regime, which would make India a more attractive tourism destination and help counter its regional rivals. Naik said that for a foreign traveller an Indian tourist visa cost $100, but a tourist visa to countries like Maldives or even Sri Lanka costs only $25. We are trying to reduce our Indian visa fees, Naik said. He also said that Goa s Dabolim 3 Indian-Americans killed in car crash NEW YORK: Three members of an Indian-American family died when their car was hit by a pickup driven by a woman, probably driving under the influence, in the US state of Texas, media reported. Ryera Patel, 5, and Trish Patel, 12, were killed along with their mother Heena Patel, 43, when their van, driven by father Ketanbhai Patel, 42, swerved to avoid the pickup driven by Shelby Taylor, 22, in Kilgore city in eastern Texas Thursday, the Newsjournal reported Friday. The parents were taken to the Good Shepherd Medical Centre in Longview, where Heena succumbed to her injures. Taylor was charged with two counts of intoxication manslaughter, an official said. IANS Mumbai buildings cave in, three dead MUMBAI: Three people were killed and six injured in two separate incidents of building collapse here yesterday, officials said. Two pavement dwellers were killed and another injured when a portion of a building fell on them while they were sleeping in Jai Bhim Nagar, an official with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation s disaster control cell said. The incident took place shortly after midnight, the official said, adding that the wall of the building was weakened by the ongoing heavy rain. The victims were identified as Dayashankar Mishra (60) and Rudramani Upadhyaya (45). Tribhuvannath Upadhyaya, 58, who sustained injuries, was rushed to a hospital. In another incident, a teenager was killed and five people were injured when a tenement being repaired came down in a slum here. The incident took place in Colaba s Ganesh Murti Nagar area at around 10.30am, the BMC official said. IANS Minister frowns on pub culture PANAJI: Pub culture will not be promoted and must be controlled because it often leads to unwanted things, Shripad Naik said yesterday. Naik was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a tourism-related event on the outskirts of Panaji. Pub culture will not be promoted, Naik said, when asked to comment on a controversy last week after a Goa cabinet minister demanded a ban on mini-skirts, saying revealing clothes and pub-culture were against Indian traditions. Naik also said that pubbing must be controlled because it leads to unwanted things. Naik, however, shied away from questions about the proliferation of the casino industry in Goa, claiming it was a state subject and that the chief minister would be the right person to answer the query. Goa is one of the most popular beach tourism destinations in India and is known for its nightlife as well as its pubs and clubs spread out in coastal areas. IANS airport would be on top of the list of nine airports in India which have been selected for e-visa facility, as announced in the union budget by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley earlier this week. IANS Skull skill Football in sands of time Sand artist Sudarshan Pattnaik works on a sand sculpture depicting the World Cup trophy along with Germany s captain Philipp Lahm (left) and Argentina s captain Lionel Messi, on a beach at Puri in Odisha yesterday. Germany and Argentina will play the final match of the 2014 World Cup today in Brazil. People look at a creation by Indian artist Subodh Gupta entitled Very Hungry God displayed during the contemporary art exhibition ArtLovers outside the Grimaldi Forum yesterday in Monaco. The exhibition closes on September 7, Mr Prime Minister, include migrants in Skill India he Narendra Modi-led government of India has put Taside several billion rupees this year for initiatives aimed at skill development of the youth for employment and entrepreneurship. The national multiskill programme Skill India was announced by finance minister Arun Jaitley in the union budget he presented before the parliament on Thursday. Five new Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and five new Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) will be set up across the country. The minister also said employment exchanges will work as career centres and provide counseling to youth to inform them about job opportunities and to pick options according to their aptitude. These are laudable initiatives and, if properly implemented, would help raise the employability levels of Indian youth. Having said that, one must Nagaland governor resigns; blasts Modi government over transfers AGARTALA/KOCHI: Nagaland Governor Vakkom B Purushothaman, who held additional charge as Tripura governor, has resigned protesting that he was not consulted on his transfer as governor from Mizoram to Nagaland. He is the sixth governor to put in his papers since the NDA came to power in New Delhi. We have unofficially learnt that Purushothaman has resigned, but no official communique was received from Rashtrapati Bhavan yet, a Tripura Raj Bhavan official told IANS. Purushothaman, an 86-yearold veteran Congress leader who served in Kerala as minister and assembly speaker and was also elected to the Lok Sabha twice, told reporters in hope that this policy is extended to youths seeking skilled and semiskilled jobs abroad as well as to lowskilled migrant workers forced by circumstances to return to India. The finance minister has said the new programme would include skill sets such as those for welders, cutters and equipment operators. These are sought-after skill sets not just in the Gulf, but across the developed world. The Gulf boom of 1970s caused a massive exodus of Indian workers to the Gulf region. During the 1990s, globalisation speeded up the cross-border movement of people, making India one of the largest labour-providing countries in the world. The massive number of lowskilled Indians living and working abroad underlines the government s role in empowering and protecting these workers through provision and upgrading of skills as an effective means of protection for migrant workers. You don t need to send them Thiruvananthapuram: My secretary has sent my resignation letter to Rashtrapati Bhavan. On Sunday, in a reshuffle of governors, Gujarat governor Kamla Beniwal was transferred to Mizoram while Purushothaman was transferred as governor of Nagaland with additional charge of Tripura. Kamla Beniwal, 87, assumed office Wednesday as the 12th governor of Mizoram. Purushothaman is the sixth governor to resign after the Narendra Modi-led government took charge on May 26. The five governors who quit earlier were B L Joshi (Uttar Pradesh), Shekhar Dutt (Chhattisgarh), Ashwani Kumar (Nagaland), M K Narayanan (West Bengal), and B V Wanchoo (Goa). Rajasthan Governor Margaret to the IITs or the IIMs. Rather, a housemaid used to cleaning with a broom must know how to operate a vacuum cleaner. Similarly, cooks need to be trained in the use of advanced technological kitchen gadgets and drivers need to know how to operate sophisticated new vehicles. Creating training and THE NR EYE Moiz Mannan skill development infrastructure facilities in such areas would require heavy investment. In this regard, the Minister of Overseas Indians Affairs, Sushma Swaraj, needs to impress upon the Prime Minister, the Finance Minister as well as the Human Resources Minister to refashion and reactivate some earlier skill development initiatives for migrant workers. Their context is special. For them, the Alva, who is due to finish her term in about a month, has been given additional responsibility of Gujarat while D Y Patil, governor of Bihar, will discharge the functions of the governor of West Bengal in addition to his normal duties. Criticising the National Democratic Alliance government s decision to ask governors appointed by the previous government to resign, Purushothaman said: Governors could not be shunted around like government servants. This is a constitutional post and must be accorded due respect. He said though many people who were appointed as governors may have been fulltime politicians, nobody would behave in a partisan manner after assuming office with a constitutional mandate. IANS WASHINGTON: US lawmakers were spearheading an effort yesterday to get Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited to address a joint session of Congress when he visits the United States in September. Modi accepted an invitation Friday to meet US President Barack Obama in Washington during the new Indian leader s trip to the UN General Assembly in New York. Democrat Brad Sherman and Republican Ted Poe, members of the Foreign Affairs Committee, are urging congressional leaders to invite Modi to address a joint session of Congress. We have an opportunity to build on the US-India strategic partnership to the benefit enhancement of only job skills is not enough. They need a mechanism that provides knowledge and training in areas such as basic migration laws, travel documentation, their legal rights as migrant employees and redressal procedures. Orientation programmes on foreign job search and identification of genuine employers, negotiating contracts and minimum safeguards with respect to working conditions must be strengthened and their accessibility improved. Further, structured programmes must be added to make migrants aware of the politics, economy and culture of the host countries. Imparting language skills becomes important here. We know that in states like Kerala and Andhra the potential migrants have been acquiring Arabic language skills informally with private tutors for decades. Surely, the MOIA can institutionalise such training in English, European and some Health minister urges doctors to help reduce maternal deaths NEW DELHI: Laying stress on reducing the number of maternal and child deaths in accordance with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan yesterday asked doctors of a city hospital to be zero tolerant of inefficiency and pro-active in performing their duties. The MDG deadline is September 2015 and we are still a long way off. There are many things you all could do to reduce the mortality rate of children. If developed countries can do it, we too should because there is no paucity of money or human resources, he told the doctors and staff of Kalawati Saran Children s Hospital here. The United Nations (UN) MDGs ranging from halving extreme poverty rates to halting the spread of HIV/AIDS and providing universal primary education form a blueprint agreed to by all the world s countries and all leading development institutions. Harsh Vardhan, who visited the hospital to review the sanitation drive, spent close to two hours inspecting every ward and department along with toilet facilities, an official statement said. Reviewing the infrastructure, Harsh Vardhan assured that the vacant posts of doctors, staff and faculty at Lady Hardinge Medical College (part of Kalawati Saran Hospital) will be filled up soon. He added that the Health Ministry will ensure the proposals sent by the hospital were cleared expeditiously. I will be keen to see improvements in your hospital because it is crucial to our objective of meeting the UN deadline, Harsh Vardhan added. IANS US lawmakers want Modi to address them of both our nations, they wrote in their letter to Speaker of the House John Boehner and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. India is a growing economic power in a strategically important region of the world, they added. At least 36 lawmakers have signed the letter. They noted that an Indian prime minister has addressed a joint session of Congress in each of the last three decades, the most recent being Manmohan Singh in The upcoming visit of Prime Minister Modi will allow us to continue that tradition, the House members said. The last such address by a foreign leader was by South Korean President Park Geun-Hye in May Asian languages and the culture, traditions and customs of these lands to diversify labour exports. Such an approach will also reduce ethnic tensions, combat the segregation of migrants, and will also create conditions for the effective protection of their rights and legitimate interests. Some two years ago, the MOIA had thought up of a few projects to help build Indian migrant workers capabilities to move up the value chain. The implementation was left to the India Centre for Migration (ICM), formerly known as Indian Council of Overseas Employment (ICOE) which is a not for profit society established by MOIA. Nothing of note came about as a result of these projects, most of which have faded into oblivion. Now, it is up to the Modi government to extend its new philosophy of skill development to this huge chunk of Indians who need it as desperately as the residents.

20 20 MORNING BREAK PRAYER TIME Eye in the sky Fajr (Dawn) 3:24 Shorook (Sunrise) 4:52 Zuhr (Noon) 11:40 Asr (Afternoon) 3:04 Maghrib (Sunset) 6:29 Isha (Night) 7:59 WEATHER Today Monday Tuesday Clear Clear Clear High: 46 High: 44 High: 42 Low: 33 Low: 34 Low: 34 Weather Conditions: Hot during the day with slight dust at places at times. DOHA - SUN & SEA SUN TIDE SEA SUNRISE SUNSET HIGH LOW WIND 04:54 18:24 04:30 & 18:00 00:30 & 10: /20 KT THE REGION TODAY TOMORROW HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER MUSCAT 34/29 Clear 33/30 Clear MAKKAH 42/30 Clear 46/30 Partly cloudy KUWAIT 47/32 Clear 46/31 Clear BAHRAIN 40/34 Clear 39/35 Clear SANAA 30/19 Partly cloudy 31/18 Partly cloudy RIYADH 43/32 Clear 44/32 Clear DUBAI 43/29 Partly cloudy 42/29 Clear BAGHDAD 46/26 Clear 44/30 Clear THE WORLD TODAY HI/LO WEATHER TOMORROW HI/LO WEATHER ATHENS 32/23 Clear 33/24 Clear WASHINGTON 33/23 Chance of storm 34/24 Chance of storm SYDNEY 16/09 Partly cloudy 17/11 Chance of rain LONDON 22/11 Chance of rain 24/16 Partly cloudy PARIS 21/16 Thunderstorm 22/16 Mostly cloudy ISTANBUL 26/21 Chance of storm 27/21 Clear MANILA 32/26 Thunderstorm 35/25 Chance of storm DHAKA 34/28 Chance of rain 34/27 Chance of storm DELHI 41/31 Partly cloudy 41/26 Cloudy ISLAMABAD 39/29 Clear 39/29 Clear A super moon is seen next to Tokyo Sky Tree, the world s tallest broadcasting tower at 634 metres, in Tokyo yesterday. Three super moons this summer NEW YORK: The full moon yesterday appeared to be unusually big. In fact, it was a super moon. That s the nickname for full moons that happen when our celestial neighbour is relatively close to Earth. That distance varies because the moon follows an elliptical orbit. When it s close and full, it appears bigger and brighter than normal, although in fact the difference can be hard to detect. Two other full moons this summer, on August 10 and September 9, are also super moons. It s not all that unusual to have a super moon. There were three in a row last year. AP Jazz bassist Charlie Haden dies LOS ANGELES: Grammy Award-winning Charlie Haden, a legendary jazz bassist who played with artists including John Coltrane and Chet Baker, died on Friday in Los Angeles. He was 76. Haden also joined pianist Keith Jarrett s ensemble in the 1960s and was considered as revolutionizing double bass playing in jazz music. He won three Grammy Awards, the most recent in 2004, and best Latin Jazz Album for Land of the Sun. It is with deep sorrow that we announce that Charlie Haden, born August 6, 1937 in Shenandoah, Iowa, passed away today at 10:11 Pacific time in Los Angeles after a prolonged illness, said ECM Records spokeswoman Tina Pelikan. Ruth Cameron, his wife of 30 years, and his children Josh Haden, Tanya Haden, Rachel Haden and Petra Haden were all by his side. Haden was an original member of the Ornette Coleman Quartet, and collaborated with artists also including Don Cherry, Alice Coltrane and Billy Higgins, according to Billboard magazine. In 1967 he joined Jarrett s band, before forming the group Old and New Dreams with Cherry, and the politically tinged Liberation Music Orchestra with composer Carla Bley, the journal said. Over the years he also worked with figures including Dizzy Gillespie, Lee Konitz and Joe Henderson, as well as pop stars like Yoko Ono, Ringo Starr, Rickie Lee Jones and Beck. An image captured by the Nasa/ESA Hubble Space Telescope of a nearby spiral galaxy known as NGC At about 32 million light-years from Earth, it is a type of very active galaxies known as Seyfert galaxies, which have very bright, luminous centres. Last original member of The Ramones dies NEW YORK: Drummer Tommy Ramone (pictured), the last surviving founding member of the pioneering US punk band The Ramones that revitalised rock and roll with its raw energy and unbridled brashness, has died in New York at the age of 65. Born Erdelyi Tamas in Budapest, Hungary, Tommy Ramone passed away on Friday at his New York home following treatment for cancer, the entertainment magazine Variety reported. His death was confirmed to the Los Angeles Times by the band s manager with Silent Partner Management, as well as on the group s Twitter and Facebook pages. We are saddened to announce the passing of Ramones founding drummer Tommy (Erdelyi) Ramone, the band said on its Twitter feed. The four original members, who all took on the last name Ramone, formed the band in the mid-1970s and came to be a fixture of the New York punk underground. The Ramones made it big with their first three albums: Ramones (1976) which included their first single hit, Blitzkrieg Bop as well as Meal time Leave Home and Rocket to Russia, both from The Ramones revitalised rock and roll at one of its lowest ebbs, infusing it with punk energy, brash attitude and a loud, fast new sound, reads the band s biography on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame s website. When their first album appeared, it said, the rock scene in general had become somewhat bloated and narcissistic. The Ramones got back to basics: simple, speedy, stripped-down rock and roll songs. The band s biggest hits Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue, Sheena is a Punk Rocker and I Wanna be Sedated never dominated the Top 50 but influenced several generations of rockers, A zookeeper feeds hippopotamuses at the Taipei Zoo in Taipei, Taiwan, yesterday. including U2. The Ramones had a particularly powerful impact on the British rock scene. In the introduction of his book Punk: The Brutal Truth, British rock critic Paul du Noyer described The Ramones as a New York act that inspired the British scene into being and whose strippeddown muscial minimalism remains the essence of the genre. Like Motörhead, a band from the neighboring territory of hard rock, The Ramones endure as an iconic name, whose logo alone can sell a million T-shirts because it represents an attitude to life. Tommy Ramone, who anchored the frantic beat with superhuman energy, surrendered his drumsticks to a new drummer, Marky Ramone, in 1978, but remained as the band s co-producer and advisor through 1984, according to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.. The Ramones disbanded in 1996, and the band was inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Lead vocalist Joey Ramone died in 2001, followed by bassist and songwriter Dee Dee Ramone the following year and guitarist Johnny Ramone in Comedian Tracy Morgan sues Walmart over deadly crash NEWARK: Actor and comedian Tracy Morgan has sued Wal-Mart Stores Inc in a New Jersey federal court, alleging the retailer was negligent in connection with the June crash that left him critically injured and killed a fellow passenger. The complaint, filed on Thursday, said Bentonville, Arkansas-based Wal-Mart knew or should have known its truck driver, Kevin Roper, had been awake for over 24 hours prior to the crash and was not in compliance with federal regulations designed to combat driver fatigue. The suit claims Roper commuted more than 1,130 km from his Georgia home to a Wal-Mart distribution facility in Delaware before beginning his work shift. Roper was charged last month with vehicular homicide and assault-by-auto after prosecutors said he rear-ended the limo bus Morgan and his entourage were riding in during the June 7 crash, near Cranbury, New Jersey. Roper pleaded not guilty. Morgan, best known for starring in NBC s 30 Rock and Saturday Night Live, was riding along the New Jersey Turnpike with several people including his assistant Jeffrey Millea and comedian Ardley Fuqua Jr, who were also injured in the crash and are co-plaintiffs in the suit. The group was returning from a comedy performance they gave at Dover Downs Hotel & Casino in Delaware. The crash killed comedian James McNair, 62, of Peekskill, New York. We are deeply sorry that one of our trucks was involved, Wal- Mart said in a statement. As we ve said, we re cooperating fully in the ongoing investigation. We know it will take some time to resolve all of the remaining issues as a result of the accident, but we re committed to doing the right thing for all involved, the statement said. Morgan was transferred to a rehabilitation center last month after spending about two weeks at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, New Jersey, recovering from a broken leg and other injuries. Federal investigators said last month that Roper was driving roughly 20 miles per hour (32 km/h) over the speed limit just before the crash. Morgan and the other plaintiffs are seeking unspecified damages and attorneys fees.

21 Sunday 13 July Ramadan 1435 Volume 19 Number 6125 Price: QR2 QFMA probes 25 cases of trading violations Conducts 16 inspections at various organisations in 2013 BY SATISH KANADY DOHA: The Qatar Financial Markets Authority (QFMA) launched a series of investigations into the alleged cases of violations by the market players in Qatar, last year. The market supervisory body conducted 16 inspections at various organisations, including some brokerage companies, in QFMA said it received a number of reports about suspected trade violations and money laundering during last year. The body recommended appropriate action against the erring companies to the competent authority. It submitted 10 reports against various companies regarding trading violations. In the first quarter of 2013, the body submitted five reports to concerned authorities on trading violations, QFMA said in its annual report. During 2013, QFMA received eight complaints and conducted 25 investigations in suspected cases. Surprise inspections were conducted at some organisations. The authority completed investigations into all the complaints, except one which is pending before the investigation committee. The QFMA carried out 12 investigations. The regulatory body referred eight cases to the disciplinary action committee which imposed either fines or issued warning. The Appeal Committee held 11 meetings and a total of eight appeals came up. The committee adjudicated on 13 appeals. Four appeals and requests for a stay of QFMA proceedings are still under consideration by the committee. The report said the number of registered investors in Qatar Exchange increased to 968,000 in 2013 against 914,000 in 2012, which reflected an increase in the trading volume in the bourse. The total traded value rose to QR80.1bn and the number of transactions increased to 958,646 in The report said number of registered investors in Qatari market increased to 968,343 in 2013 compared to 964,548 in The total number of Qatari registered editor@pen.com.qa adv@pen.com.qa Editorial: Advertising: / investors grew to 295,279 from 294,423. During 2013, the market witnessed listing of 3.39 million short-term Treasury Bills, with standard maturity periods of three, six or nine months. The year saw a drop in the value of T-bills as the normal value of the listed bills was down to QR33.9bn in 2013, compared to QR43.3bn in The number of traded bills in 2013 was 401,000 against 80,100 in Total number of bill transactions reached 51 in 2013 against 25 in Last year witnessed the first trading year of government bonds, where the trading values amounted to QR1.5bn of a total of 150,000 through 17 transactions. In 2013, top 10 listed companies acquired 62.6 percent of the total traded value of all the companies. The top ten companies in terms of traded value were Industries Qatar, QNB, UDC, Barwa Real Estate, Masraf Al Rayan, Commercial Bank, Qatar Gas Transport, Doha Bank, Qatari Investment Group and Gulf International. US Fed officials debate timing of interest rate increases WASHINGTON: A debate is intensifying among the Federal Reserve s regional bank presidents about whether to push interest rates up from zero sooner than planned because of recent improvements in the US job market, the Wall Street Journal reported. Most Fed officials at June s policy meeting didn t see rate increases until 2015, according to projections made before the Labour Department reported on July 3 that the jobless rate fell to 6.1 percent in June, the Journal said in an article. Fed officials hadn t expected unemployment to fall to near 6.1 percent until the end of this year. We have made more progress toward our unemployment goals than we would have thought earlier this year, San Francisco Federal Reserve President John Williams told the Journal. He added that this development suggests that monetary policy can safely start the process of normalisation a touch earlier than previously expected. He didn t specify when that would be, but has said in the past he sees the first Fed rate increase in the second half of 2015, the Journal reported. His comments are notable, the Journal said, because Williams tends to be in the camp of Fed officials, often called doves, who want to keep interest rates low, in contrast to the hawks who consistently call for higher rates to tamp down inflationary pressures. Williams said the shift in his view was not a game changer because he still believes there is quite a bit of slack in the economy holding inflation down, the Journal reported. If the Fed does start moving rates up sooner, he noted, it wouldn t be substantially sooner than previously thought. Meanwhile, Fed hawks are becoming more vocal about wanting earlier interest-rate increases. We need to adjust the language in our statement to reflect that the economy really is better that it was, and that the necessity of having zero interest rates for a long time to come seems to me to be perhaps a risky or unnecessary step at this point, Philadelphia Fed President Charles Plosser told the Journal. St Louis Fed President James Bullard has been warning that market participants might not appreciate how quickly the economy is converging toward the Fed s goals of maximum employment and stable prices, the Journal said. A year ago, Bullard noted, Fed officials thought the jobless rate would be 7 percent by now and the central bank would be finished with a massive program of mortgage and Treasury bond purchases meant to spur hiring and investment. Instead, the jobless rate is almost a full percentage point lower than expected and bond purchases haven t been completed.

22 22 Mena needs subsidy reform for growth: QNB Global energy subsidies at $492bn DOHA: Global spending on energy subsidies totalled $492bn in Middle East and North Africa (Mena) countries alone accounted for nearly half of that amount, making the burden of subsidies on public resources quite substantial, said QNB Group in its weekly report. While total spending on energy subsidies in Mena reached 8.6 percent of GDP in 2011, there was significant variation among the countries of the region. In countries like Iraq and Egypt, spending on energy subsidies reached 11 percent of GDP while it was 3 percent of GDP in Tunisia. Within the GCC, spending on energy subsidies ranged from 10 percent of GDP in Saudi Arabia to around 6 percent in the UAE and 3 percent in Qatar. Countries in Mena could therefore benefit from reforming their subsidy systems for a number of reasons. First, large spending on subsidies consumes a large portion of public resources rendering them unsustainable even in the short-run for some countries. Furthermore, for energy-importing countries, subsidies tend to create external imbalances, increasing the risk of a balance of payments crisis. Second, subsidies could also hamper economic growth as the government directs its resources away from growth-enhancing spending towards paying subsidy costs. In many countries in the region, subsidy costs far out-strip spending on education or health. This can have long-term consequences on the economic welfare of the populations. Moreover, subsidies make the cost of capital artificially cheaper relative to labour wages, creating incentives for firms to switch from labour to capitalintensive industries. This leads to lower job creation. Third, empirical evidence suggests that the benefits of energy subsidies tend to be skewed towards high-income sectors of the population. The richest 20 percent of the population in developing countries is estimated to receive six times more in fuel subsidies than the poorest 20 percent. In some cases, the numbers can be even more extreme. The IMF estimates that the richest fifth of the population in Egypt captures 71 percent of the benefits from diesel subsidies compared with 1 percent for the poorest fifth. Finally, there are other distortions created by subsidies beyond the direct economic consequences. Subsidies keep fuel prices artificially below the price determined by market forces. This leads to an overconsumption of energy with adverse impact on the environment, health and traffic congestion. It also creates incentives for smuggling as the domestic price is pushed below prices in neighbouring countries. While the case for subsidy reforms is strong, their success is far from guaranteed. The IMF has recently documented 28 episodes of energy subsidy reforms worldwide. Five of these episodes failed to achieve their objectives while 11 others were only partially successful. Among the successful reform programmes, two measures were particularly crucial. The first is appropriate phasingin of price increases. Too fast an increase in energy prices can generate a backlash against reforms. This is what led to the failure of the Mauritania attempt to reform energy subsidies in Second, it is important to provide social safety nets to the poor as subsidies are removed. Ideally, targeted cash transfers to the poor should replace energy subsidies but these tend to be complex to administer. However, the positive experience of Iran in 2010 shows that even indiscriminant cash transfers to all segments can play a key role in the success of the reforms and in redistributing the resources from the rich to the poor. Implementation concerns notwithstanding, Mena countries could benefit from reforming spending on subsidies to rebalance their economies, boost growth and employment and support more sustainable and efficient economic development. commitment is guided by the leadership of the Emir, H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, as proclaimed in Qatar s National Vision and National Development Strategy. The huge investment in JBOG by QP and its partners will reduce the carbon footprint of the 77 million metric tonne per annum of LNG production facilities to the minimum, immensely contributing to the achievement of our goals, he said. The compressed gas obtained from the project will be utilised by organisations like Qatargas and RasGas either as feedstock to LNG trains or as fuel gas. BUSINESS JBOG to save 600,000 tonnes of LNG a year DOHA: As part of its efforts to meet the world s growing demand for clean energy as well as to optimise energy use while minimising energy wastage, Qatar Petroleum (QP) has launched the Jetty Boiloff Gas Recovery (JBOG) Project at a cost of QR2.9bn. QP, in a press statement yesterday, said that this energy-saving environmental project is led by Qatargas with an aim to recover gas currently being flared during liquefied natural gas (LNG) ship loading at Ras Laffan Port. It is going to be an important constituent of the common facilities projects at Ras Laffan Industrial City, as it will recover and collect boiled-off gas from LNG ships during loading and the gas will then be compressed at a central facility. The development of the JBOG Project was initiated by QP in The project, when fully operational, will recover the equivalent of about 0.6 million (600,000) tonnes of LNG per year, which is sufficient natural gas to power more than 300,000 homes. This utilisation will result in a saving of approximately one trillion cubic feet of gas over a period of 30 years. H E Dr Mohamed bin Saleh Al Sada, the Minister of Energy and Industry, hailed the project as one of the biggest environmental investments for LNG boil-off recovery in the world. Dr Al Sada said: With a capital outlay of $800m, JBOG is set to become a landmark project for the State of Qatar, underlining its strong commitment to protecting the environment. The minister said this Spain inflation drops to zero MADRID: Spain s inflation rate fell to zero in June, official data showed, as the eurozone battled to fend off the threat of a damaging deflationary spiral. Consumer prices in the eurozone s fourth largest economy were unchanged from a year ago in June, capped by declining food, soft drink and electricity prices, the National Statistics Institute said, confirming an earlier estimate. The inflation report reflects weak domestic demand in Spain, still struggling with a 26-percent jobless rate even as the economy slowly expands after emerging gingerly in mid-2013 from a double-dip recession. The facility of the Qatar Petroleum. Khalid bin Khalifa Al Thani, CEO of Qatargas, said: We are very pleased that Qatargas is able to lead this project on behalf of all the LNG producers at Ras Laffan Industrial City. Qatargas, QP, and RasGas are all focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and energy use so that we can reduce the wastage of gas to the lowest levels possible to meet or beat international standards. This project will contribute greatly to truly making LNG a clean fuel for the world. The Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) of the JBOG project was awarded to the US-based company Fluor in October The FEED was completed by the end of The Engineering, Procurement and Construction Management (EPCM) contract for the project was then awarded also to Fluor in February Qatargas awarded the contract on behalf of the owners of the project: the four Qatargas (QG 1, 2, 3 & 4) and three RasGas (RL1, 2 & 3) companies that own the 14 LNG trains at Ras Laffan. The major sub-contractors on the project are Qatar Engineering & Construction Company (Qcon), Qatar Kentz, Medgulf, Teyseer, Draieh, Shaqab Abela and G4S. iphones threat to security: Chinese media BEIJING: Chinese state broadcaster CCTV has accused US technology giant Apple of threatening national security through its iphone s ability to track and time-stamp a user s location. The frequent locations function, which can be switched on or off by users, could be used to gather extremely sensitive data, and even state secrets, said Ma Ding, director of the Institute for Security of the Internet at People s Public Security University in Beijing. The tool gathers information about the areas a user visits most often, partly to improve travel advice. In an interview broadcast Friday, Ma gave the example of a journalist being tracked by the software as a demonstration of her fears over privacy. One can deduce places he visited, the sites where he conducted interviews, and you can even see the topics which he is working on: political and economic, she said. The frequent locations function is available on ios 7, the operating system used by the current generation of iphones released in September CCTV has only just discovered this? said one incredulous Chinese microblogger. The dispute is not the first time Apple has been embroiled in controversy in China, where its products are growing in popularity in a marketplace dominated by smartphones running Google s Android operating system. Apple lost a lawsuit against a Chinese state regulator over patent rights to voice recognition software such as the iphone s Siri just this week. In March 2013 the Californian company was notably the target of criticism orchestrated by the Chinese media on behalf of consumers, who were critical of poor after-sales service. And in 2012 the US firm paid $60m to settle a dispute with another Chinese firm over the ipad trademark. The privacy scare also reflects mutual distrust between the US and China after a series of allegations from both sides on the extent of cyber-espionage. Officials with the new Avanza at the launch. Toyota Avanza redefines compact MPV segment DOHA: The launch of the Toyota Avanza in the Middle East marks the entry of a supremely practical vehicle set to redefine the compact MPV (Multi- Purpose Vehicle) segment highlighting Toyota s philosophy in introducing vehicles that not only feature a host of innovative and enhanced features, the company said in a statement. According to Hiroki Nakajima, Chief Engineer, Toyota Motor Corporation, While Avanza s design speaks volumes about the vehicle s emphasis on enlarged space for both passengers and luggage, the strong body lends the vehicle its exceptional drivability and maneuverability attributes which facilitate a comfortable ride. Speaking on the occasion of the Avanza s launch, Nobuyuki Negishi, Chief Representative of Middle East & North Africa Representative Office, Toyota Motor, said, The 7-seater Avanza provides comfortable seating for large families and offers ample luggage space even when the third-row seats are in use. At 4,140 mm long, 1,660 mm wide and 1,695 mm high, the Avanza s external dimensions lead into an interior that is comfortably spacious for all the passengers with ample room for luggage and third-row seating. Avanza is powered by a 1.5 L engine that can churn out a maximum output of 102 HP and a maximum torque of 139/4400 Nm/rpm.

23 BUSINESS Putin to help Cuba for exploring offshore oil Russia to reinvest its $3.5bn Cuban debt into projects HAVANA: Russian President Vladimir Putin pledged to help revive Cuba s struggling offshore oil exploration at the start of a six-day tour of Latin America as Russia aims to reassert its influence on the communist-ruled island. Putin was joined in Havana by close ally and so-called Russian oil czar Igor Sechin, the chairman of state oil company Rosneft, to finalise a deal to explore for oil off Cuba s northern coast. The Russian president also promised to reinvest $3.5bn of Cuban debt with Russia into development projects on the island, part of a deal in which Russia forgave 90 percent of Cuba s debt, or almost $32bn, most of it originating from Soviet loans to a fellow communist state. Both measures inject muchneeded foreign investment into Cuba and demonstrate an act of defiance against the United States, which maintains a 52-year-old economic embargo that effectively shuts out many Western companies from doing business in Cuba. We will provide support to our Cuban friends to overcome the illegal blockade of Cuba, Putin said. Putin s journey to the back yard of the United States comes as he is under pressure from the West to help restrain pro-russian separatists in Ukraine and urge them to find a negotiated solution. Sechin is one of the Russian executives the United States has targeted for economic sanctions over the Ukraine crisis. The US has blacklisted individuals believed to be part of Putin s inner circle, and Sechin is among the most influential people in Russia. Putin will also visit Argentina and Brazil for bilateral talks, and while in Brazil he will participate in a summit of the so-called BRICS nations of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa on Tuesday and Wednesday. On his first stop in Cuba, the Cold War ally of the former Soviet Union situated only 145km from the United States, Putin met with former President Fidel Castro and current President Raul Castro before receiving the Medal of Jose Marti, Cuba s highest decoration. Any major oil find would radically improve Cuba s economic trajectory. Cuba produces about 55,000 barrels per day (bdp) through aging onshore wells and imports about 110,000bpd on favourable terms from socialist ally Venezuela. Following a number of foreign companies whose wells have all come up dry, Russian oil company Zarubezhneft last year began drilling in Cuba s Boca de Jaruco area. That project has been suspended. Zarubezhneft also has been helping Cuba extract from existing onshore wells. An aide to Putin in Moscow said on Thursday that Zarubeznheft would sign a new deal in Cuba along with Rosneft, but in the end only Rosneft was present. Bundesbank s opening day President of the German federal reserve (Deutsche Bundesbank) Jens Weidmann poses next to a logo of the euro, during an open day of the Bundesbank in Frankfurt yesterday. 23 CIMB looks for mega merger to form Malaysia s biggest bank KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia s second largest bank CIMB Group has secured central bank approval to commence merger talks with RHB Capital and Malaysia Building Society to create the country s biggest bank, reports said yesterday. The merger plan comes as Malaysia hopes the financial sector will help realise the government s vision of transforming Malaysia into a developed economy by The target is to double income per capita to 48,000 ringgit ($15,000) in the next six years. The potential merged entity will have total assets of 614bn ringgit. This will knock Maybank, which has total assets of about 578 billion ringgit, off the pole position, the New Straits Times said yesterday. On Thursday, CIMB, RHB Capital, which is Malaysia s fourth largest bank, and Malaysia Building Society said they had entered into a 90-day exclusivity agreement to negotiate the proposed merger of the three entities and the creation of a mega Islamic bank. Softbank in deal to merge Sprint, T-Mobile TOKYO: Japan s SoftBank and Deutsche Telekom of Germany have reached a basic agreement for a merger between their US affiliates Sprint and T-Mobile US, the business daily Nikkei reported yesterday. Eight financial institutions, including Japan s top three megabanks Mizuho, Mitsubishi UFJ and Sumitomo Mitsui, will provide a credit line of around four trillion yen ($39bn) for SoftBank s purchase of T-Mobile through Sprint, according to the report. The combined customer base of Sprint, ranked third among US mobile phone firms, and fourthranked T-Mobile roughly equals those of the sector s two leaders top-ranked Verizon Wireless and AT&T, the daily said. The US Federal Communications Commission will examine the proposed merger from a communications policy standpoint while the Department of Justice will scrutinise it for antitrust issues. SoftBank chief Masayoshi Son has been actively lobbying in Washington to win over regulators, who appear content to keep the market dominated by four players, the daily said. Sprint, acquired by SoftBank for $21.6bn in July last year, was the only one of the top four US carriers to log a net decrease in subscribers over the January-March quarter. Having been less aggressive to invest in its wireless network, the company has not been able to shed the perception that its network is slow and has poor coverage, the Nikkei said. US sets duties on oil pipe imports from South Korea WASHINGTON: The US Commerce Department set duties on South Korean steel pipe used in the oil and natural gas industry, reversing itself after intense lobbying from local producers, workers and lawmakers. The move was an about face for Commerce, which confirmed in its final determination that duties would also be set on oil country tubular goods (OCTG) from India, SAN FRANCISCO: Yahoo announced it has bought an Israel-based startup specialising in streaming high-quality video to computers and mobile devices. Yahoo did not disclose financial terms of the deal to acquire RayV, which will become part of the California company s research and development team in Tel Aviv. The (RayV) team lives and breathes video, and have become industry pioneers, Yahoo said in a Tumblr post. This deal demonstrates our dedication to accelerating our video strategy and boosting our underlying technology infrastructure in the space. Yahoo is focusing on ramping up its offerings for streaming video live or on demand. News of Yahoo s latest acquisition came on the same day that it unveiled a lineup of free streaming concerts by music stars such Canada unemployment rate rises the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey and Vietnam. Although the investigation found pipe from Ukraine had also been sold in the United States below cost, Commerce said it would not collect any duties. Several US steel companies lodged the complaint last year after imports of pipe from the nine countries doubled to account for nearly two-thirds of the US Yahoo buys video streaming startup as Usher, Michael Franti and The Dave Matthews Band. A Live Nation Channel on Yahoo Screen promised to serve up a new live concert daily beginning on July 15, when The Dave Matthews Band performs two sets. In today s on-demand entertainment environment, live experiences are the only ones that we all share together, at the same time, Yahoo chief marketing officer Kathy Savitt said in a statement. Together with Live Nation, we are excited to bring millions of fans together to share these moments through the new Yahoo Live experience. A glimpse of the schedule for the first month at yahoo.com/ live promised performances by John Legend, Justin Timberlake, OneRepublic, Everclear, Airborne Toxic Event and other music stars. market, according to steel industry body American Iron and Steel Institute. The ruling is a boon for the companies, which include United States Steel Corp, pipe specialist Tenaris subsidiary Maverick Tube Corporation, Boomerang Tube, Energex Tube, a division of JMC Steel Group, Northwest Pipe Company, Tejas Tubular Products, Russia s TMK IPSCO and France s Vallourec Star. In its preliminary ruling in February, Commerce found goods from India, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine and Vietnam were sold below cost in the United States. But it did not initially find such dumping from South Korea, whose producers include Hyundai Hysco and Nexteel Co. Imports from Hyundai Hysco will have duties of percent, from Nexteel they will be 9.89 percent and all other South Korean producers will have a duty of percent, Commerce said. Preliminary rulings rely on information provided by the companies involved and this is then verified during the final investigation stage. US imports of South Korean oil country tubular goods, used to drill for oil and gas, were worth $818m in 2013, more than the imports from all eight other countries combined. People wait in line for resume critique and career assessment sessions at a job fair in Toronto. Canada unexpectedly shed 9,400 jobs in June 2014 and the unemployment rate rose to 7.1 percent from May s 7 percent, underlining how employment growth has stalled despite a recovery in the United States.

24 24 BUSINESS No deal yet on Argentina debt talks Talks failure could trigger a default NEW YORK: Argentine officials and holdout bondholders met separately with a US court-appointed mediator on Friday in New York but failed to clinch a deal to resolve a dispute that could trigger a default by Buenos Aires. With the clock ticking toward a July 30 deadline, Argentina needs to reach an agreement on paying more than $1.3bn claimed by hedge funds, mainly NML Capital and Aurelius Management, which refused to join other bondholders in the restructuring of the country s defaulted debt. The parties, including representatives of the Republic of Argentina and representatives of the bondholders, together with their respective lawyers, came to see me this afternoon, said attorney Daniel Pollack, appointed by US District Judge Thomas Griesa to break the impasse. They each presented their positions to me, but not in the presence of the other side. No Hony snaps up Pizza Express for $1.6bn LONDON: Chinese private equity firm Hony Capital has struck a deal with Gondola Group to buy Britain s Pizza Express chain for about 900m ($1.6bn), the companies said yesterday. Hony s interest comes two months after Pizza Express expanded its empire of 500 restaurants to include its first Beijing-based pizzeria. The group already runs 12 restaurants in Hong Kong and nine in Shanghai. It has 436 in Britain. Private equity fund Cinven bought Pizza Express franchise owner Gondola in a public to private transaction in 2007 for $1.77bn. Gondola, a prominent player in the UK casual dining sector, also owns ASK, Zizzi and Kettner s, according to Cinven s website. This transaction is the largest in the European restaurant sector in the past five years, Gondola and Hony said in a joint statement. resolution has been reached. It is my hope that there will be future dialogue, he added in a statement. Argentina sent to the meeting a team of three senior officials from the Economy Ministry, in addition to members of its legal representatives in New York. The Argentine Republic is willing to continue with a dialogue that allows reaching a solution in fair, equitable and legal conditions for 100 percent of the bondholders, the Economy Ministry said in a statement. In a notice published in major Argentine newspapers Friday, President Cristina Kirchner s government accused the hedge funds and Judge Griesa of wanting to drag the country into defaulting on the payments. On Monday, Economy Minister Axel Kicillof led a delegation from Argentina in a four-hour meeting with Pollack, also without the presence of representatives of the hedge funds. LONDON: Suspense over the appearance of America s newest combat jet, a diplomatic chill between the West and Russia and the re-launch of an Airbus jet with a surprise tweak in its name could make the Farnborough Airshow one of the least predictable for years. While the world s largest aerospace event is traditionally a cauldron for new technology and dazzling flying displays, technical problems forced the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter to withdraw from a warm-up event and Farnborough s aircraft list is already crossed through with several high-profile no-shows. The July gathering will go ahead without the brand-new Bombardier CSeries or popular Russian fighter displays. At the July Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) in England, visitors were disappointed after Lockheed Martin Corp s F-35 fighter jet failed to make the military air show. An engine fire has triggered a fleetwide grounding of the Pentagon s newest warplane Argentina s Economy Minister Axel Kicillof (left) with Planning Minister Julio de Vido at the Casa Rosada presidential palace in Buenos Aires yesterday. Aerospace jamboree on tenterhooks and the world s single most expensive weapons programme but officials are still hoping the stealth fighter will be cleared to fly at Farnborough. Tensions over the crisis in Ukraine have also depleted this year s Farnborough show with Russia adopting a scaled-down presence, focusing on civil displays and the space industry. It s obvious that because of tensions with Western governments over differences between Russia and Ukraine, the military presence is really scaled down at this year s Farnborough, said Alexander Velovich, sales representative for Russian and Ukrainian clients at the Farnborough Airshow. Many Russian visitors have struggled to obtain British visas and on Friday more than 100 of the expected 450 delegates were yet to receive clearance, said elovich. Somewhat more predictable is the drumbeat of civil orders led by leasing firms, despite fears of airline overcapacity and a peak in the aerospace cycle that have caused the US sector to underperform Australia s central bank urges fiscal restraint SYDNEY: Australia s central bank governor Glenn Stevens yesterday urged politicians to work together to address the growing gap between fiscal spending and revenue, as the government battles to push through massive budget cuts. In a rare newspaper interview, Stevens told The Australian financial markets might not be so forgiving as they are now if the country did not start to manage its budget in a measured way. The Reserve Bank governor s comments followed a chaotic week in Australia s upper house that saw the conservative government s attempt to repeal a carbon tax fail when a minor party withdrew its support. Stevens said while Australians have supported recent spending plans for education and disability, we didn t actually vote for the revenue to fund them just yet and so that s the kind of fundamental issue that will emerge more clearly in a few years time. The main point simply is, there is a medium-term issue which will grow if it s not addressed. And it would be best to be agreeing on measures now that will address it over time, rather than let it fester and be faced with more genuinely draconian measures at some later day. The Labor and Greens opposition parties have criticised the governing Liberal Party for the tough budget measures that cut back on welfare and spending. wider stocks by around 10 percent this year. Airbus and Boeing are expected to grab more than 500 orders worth well over $50bn, including a major 100-plane order for Airbus aircraft from leasing company SMBC. Qatar Airways may finalise an order for 50 Boeing 777X jets and order Airbus small A320 jets, while Boeing could confirm the defection of UK s Monarch Airlines from Airbus as both planemakers pursue a relentless battle for market share. But analysts are likely to scrutinise the announcements more closely than ever to see how much is genuinely new business. With the usual Airshow games, we could see some previously announced orders being firmed up, and unidentified orders being identified, RBC analyst Rob Stallard said in a note. Most attention will be on Airbus as it kicks off the show by launching a revamped and rebranded version of the A330 jetliner. Airbus hopes to generate more than 1,000 new sales NEW DELHI: India s top finance ministry official said that plans announced in the budget to stick to a fiscal deficit target of 4.1 percent of GDP are very credible, despite criticism from ratings agencies that the number is optimistic. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who took office in May, on Thursday unveiled a budget that focused on attracting investment rather than reining in spending, in order to balance India s books and revive a weak economy an approach that fell short of expectations. Finance Secretary Arvind Mayaram said, however, that he thought the approach was with new engines and curved aerodynamic winglets, but is also preparing to back away from the newer A which it once hoped would replace the A330 and underpin its new A350 jet family. Airbus has only 34 A s left on order, including Hawaiian Airlines which is being courted for the revamped A330. The airline has previously been reluctant to change to a different model, but a spokeswoman said it was ready to examine the A330neo since the A may not be built. Boeing officials say the change demonstrates its rival s wavering strategy and that the market will be both far smaller than Airbus hopes closer to 400 aircraft and short-lived. Still, the launch is expected to lead to stiff competition as Boeing tries to limit any damage to margins and sales of its carbon-fibre 787. In a last-minute switch, the upgraded model may be named A /900neo instead of the -200/-300 tags used in pre-marketing in an effort to smooth the end of the A and add a new tier in Airbus s portfolio. feasible. If you look at the numbers as they stand today, I think it s a very credible number, he said yesterday. We are looking at bringing the investment cycle back. That ll be the pump primer, Mayaram said, confirming that India s government is projecting economic growth will rise to percent this fiscal year. He also said Modi s administration might be able to exceed the $9.7bn divestment target set out in the budget which it aims to meet by selling government stakes in both state-owned and private companies partly because India s stock markets were stronger this year than Russia sets new banking rules for state firms MOSCOW: Russian state companies, the backbone of the economy, can only have accounts at banks with capital of no less than 10bn roubles ($296m) or at those with ties to the government, a senior finance ministry official said. The move, under discussion since June, is aimed at protecting some of Russia s largest companies from an economic downturn, worsened by Western sanctions over Ukraine, and to protect depositors in the case banks lose their licenses. Earlier, Russia s central bank had been discussing a requirement that state companies would only be allowed to have accounts at banks with capital of over 16.5bn roubles ($480m). But Deputy Finance Minister Alexei Moiseev said that the central bank and the Finance Ministry had now agreed that state companies will be allowed to have accounts at banks with capital of a lower amount no less than 10bn roubles. Banks must meet one of three criteria their capital must be no less than 10bn roubles, or the bank is directly or indirectly controlled by the state, or there is a special situation where the government can put a bank on the list at the request of a strategic company, said Moiseev. This encapsulates a larger network of banks some 100 banks versus around 50 banks that would have met the previous requirements. The companies, including some of the country s largest energy, gas, banking and transport companies such as Rosneft, Gazprom and Aeroflot, should also hold accounts at banks directly or indirectly controlled by the state, Moiseev said. Russia s largest banks are the state-controlled Sberbank and VTB. The central bank has been on a campaign to clean up the banking system and crack down on money laundering. Russia just under 900 banks, mostly small, and many are suspected of servicing the shadow economy. Since taking up her position as central bank head last year, Elvira Nabiullina, has made it clear she wants to tighten banking supervision and shore up large-scale capital flight to boost the flagging economy. India defends 4.1pc fiscal deficit target Whirlpool to buy Indesit stake they had been last year. Asia s third-largest economy grew by 4.7 percent in the year that ended on March 31 the second consecutive year of growth of below 5 percent. While the budget contained a number of measures to attract foreign investment and kick start infrastructure projects, a major revival in private investment across the economy is by no means guaranteed. With varying degrees of severity, ratings agencies Fitch, Moody s and Standard & Poor s have all expressed worries that the pledge to keep the fiscal deficit at 4.1 percent in is unrealistic. The Indesit logo is seen on a fridge in a shopping centre in Rome yesterday. Whirlpool, the world s largest maker of home appliances, has agreed to pay $1bn to buy a 60 percent stake in smaller Italian rival Indesit to further expand beyond its US home market.

25 BY BARRY EICHENGREEN E BUSINESS VIEWS The renminbi embarks on its own grand tour uropean and Chinese officials have made two notable announcements in recent weeks. On 18 June, China s second largest financial institution, China Construction Bank, was designated as the official renminbi clearing bank for London. The next day, the Frankfurt branch of the Bank of China, the country s largest commercial bank, received the same designation for the eurozone. Both announcements were greeted with great acclaim. British chancellor George Osborne hailed the creation of a London clearing bank as hugely important for the financial future of the City. Joachim Nagel of the German Bundesbank lauded the Bank of China announcement as a milestone on the road toward creating a renminbi trading centre in Frankfurt. We should expect these kinds of enthusiastic pronouncements from European officials, who are desperate for good news, whatever its source. But should the rest of us care? After all, banks, firms, and even individuals already can buy renminbi for their pounds and euros. A range of financial institutions, both locally and in Hong Kong, have long stood ready to provide this service. The only difference is that the two big Chinese banks, when doing business in London and Frankfurt, will be permitted to purchase renminbi in China itself when their foreign customers demand it. The People s Bank of China (PBOC) will give them a quota for this purpose. Other banks, when seeking to provide renminbi to their clients, are limited to bidding for the fixed supplies that circulate offshore. This raises their costs and limits demand for their services. Thus, by permitting two clearing banks to access renminbi onshore, Chinese officials are effectively subsidising their London and Frankfurt operations and encouraging direct sterling and euro trades. But London and Frankfurt would be reckless to bank on rapid growth in their renminbi transactions. In its most recent survey of foreign-exchange markets, in April 2013, the Bank for International Settlements found that renminbi-dollar trades averaged $113bn a day, whereas direct renminbi-euro trades totalled a mere $1bn, while direct renminbi-sterling trades amounted to even less. In practice, when Europeans want China s currency, they use their euros and pounds to buy dollars, and then use those dollars to buy renminbi. This reflects the fact that the market in dollar-denominated assets is exceptionally deep and liquid, which limits transaction costs. Chinese officials presumably believe that this situation will change over time. Once banks offer new assets denominated in renminbi, more customers will be drawn into the market, thereby adding liquidity and reducing transaction costs for purchases of renminbi in European currencies. The dollar s asymmetric role will be superseded. At that point, the renminbi, the euro, and sterling will all play consequential international roles. Thus, the decision to designate renminbi clearing banks in London and Frankfurt is, in effect, one more step by China to foster the emergence of an international monetary system with several global currencies, not just one. It is a step toward creating a better match between our multipolar global economy and its monetary and financial system and thus a step towards ending the world economy s dependence on the dollar, which European and Chinese policymakers have complained about since the global financial crisis erupted in But it is only a step. Deep and liquid markets are not built in a day. In June 2013, when the PBOC unexpectedly tightened monetary policy, domestic interbank interest rates shot up to 25 percent. Thus, even a quota that permits an offshore clearing bank to tap funding in China does not guarantee that it can obtain that funding at a reasonable price. Moreover, if China develops financial problems, capital outflows may accelerate. The Chinese authorities may then be forced to tighten the quotas made available to the clearing banks. Market liquidity would be a casualty. One can also question how much appetite European investors will display for renminbi-denominated financial assets. In the past, demand for such assets has been fed by the expectation that the renminbi will continue to appreciate. If Chinese growth slows, such expectations might well dissolve. There is no doubt that, with time, the renminbi will acquire a more consequential international role. Twenty-first-century financial technology will facilitate direct trading in a variety of different currencies, eliminating the need and custom of routing virtually all international transactions through the dollar. Ultimately this will spell the end of America s exorbitant privilege. Just not yet. And not any time soon. THE GUARDIAN BY LEONID BERSHIDSKY R ussian President Vladimir Putin is preparing to spend billions of dollars on a bizarre trip into the Soviet past, restarting construction on the storied and ill-starred Baikal-Amur Mainline railroad. Sadly, Putin s nostalgia will come at great cost to the country s future. In the late 1990s, the American writer Fen Montaigne travelled across Russia for his fly-fishing book, Hooked. Among other adventures, he rode on the BAM, a major railroad through the wilderness of Eastern Siberia and the Far East that was meant to unlock the area s vast natural resources. BAM was conceived under Stalin in the 1930s but built in the 1970s and 1980s at a cost of $25bn, paid for mainly by oil exports. By the time the BAM became fully functional in the late 1980s, the party was over, Montaigne wrote. The Soviet Union s collapse meant there was no money to build mining towns and factories along the mainline. Someday, no doubt, capitalist Russia would make use of the BAM, wrote Montaigne. But as my train chugged along, I saw only a derailed Communist dream. Now, as Montaigne predicted, the project is being revived, albeit not by capitalists. The Russian government will finance construction with oil revenue that was supposed Putin takes expensive trip down memory lane to be locked up in the $87.9bn National Wellbeing Fund, whose primary purpose was to make sure the pension system had enough money to support an aging population. The Russian Railroads monopoly will spend 150bn rubles ($4.4bn) from the fund on increasing the capacity of BAM and the Trans-Siberian Railroad. As much as 60 percent of the National Wellbeing Fund is now earmarked for infrastructure projects of this kind. Two other projects the construction of a ring road around greater Moscow and a high-speed rail link between Moscow and Kazan have been approved for an additional 300bn rubles in financing from the fund. Deep down, Putin appears convinced that Russia s past is also its future, so why not finance the Soviet revival with money stockpiled against a rainy day? The trip down memory lane can even be cloaked in modern rhetoric: The National Wellbeing Fund is now seen as an instrument of stimulating economic growth, investment, Deputy Finance Minister Konstantin Vyshkovsky recently told Bloomberg News. True, Russia is having trouble with economic growth. The economics ministry expects investment to drop 2.4 percent this year, and capital flight may reach $100bn. Putin s government sees public spending as its main recession-preventing tool: Foreign investors will shun Russia for a while because of its actions in Ukraine, and domestic ones are pessimistic because Putin s Soviet project is not businessfriendly. Apart from milking the pension system, there are plans to raise the valueadded tax and allow regions to introduce sales taxes. The finance ministry says developing Crimea will require about 90bn rubles a year in subsidies and a separate 100bn ruble investment programme for the next three years. There are other Soviet-scale plans, too, like the 2018 soccer World Cup, which, according to recent estimates, requires 620bn rubles. The state-controlled natural gas monopoly Gazprom intends to invest tens of billions of dollars in developing East Siberian gas fields and delivering the fuel to China. That project, too, may require direct state funding, though Gazprom says it can cope on its own. Such enormous projects fuel both shortterm growth and corruption. Spending on railroad or pipeline construction in East Siberia is not easy to control. Putin needs the growth to stay in power and retain his sky-high popularity as the remnants of Russia s capitalist economy shrink. His businessmen friends at Russian Railroads and Gazprom s pipeline-building companies need the government contracts. As for Russia, it is being told what it needs, just like in Soviet times. WP-BLOOMBERG Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate 25 Capital crisis is making Italy s economy stronger BY ROB COX A procession of Italian industrialists and financiers slipped through the alleyways behind La Scala opera house two weeks ago to discuss the legacy of the man whose name adorns the piazza outside the building where they met: Enrico Cuccia. The group, ranging from a former Treasury minister to an iconoclastic fashion mogul, shared stories of the founder of Mediobanca, who d passed away 14 years to the day. Yet for all the nostalgia that afternoon, absent was any obvious desire to turn back the clock to the days when Mediobanca was the unchallenged puppet-master of Italian business. That s surprising given the parlous state of corporate Italy. The uno-due punch of the financial and sovereign debt calamities has thrust the establishment into a profound crisis, one even more sweeping than the Tangentopoli corruption scandal that two decades ago sent dozens of Italy s top businessmen and politicians into Milan s San Vittore prison. The uniquely Italian form of capitalism conceived by Cuccia after World War Two is at last being consigned to history. Though the revolution reshaping the nation s economy is painful and prolonged, those with the most at stake know that Italy needs dramatic change. Deprived of the protections of the past whether from the cash-strapped government in Rome or Mediobanca in Milan Italian companies are at last being forced to play by the rules of global finance. Some 95 percent of the institutional investors who account for the bulk of trading on the Italian Stock Exchange are foreign. The survivors of this Darwinian selection will be the better for it. Unlike the cyclical spikes in bankruptcy filings that typically accompany wrenching economic change in the United States, the evidence of Italy s transformation is subtler, if wider-reaching. As companies pass the hat to investors beyond the Alps, they must transform their governance in ways that would have Cuccia turning in his grave on the banks of Lago Maggiore (assuming his body, stolen shortly after its 2000 burial, was ever in fact returned to its resting place). And nowhere is this change more evident than at Mediobanca itself. In the turbulent year of 1946, Cuccia established the bank as a bulwark for private industry, largely in the north of the country, against a rising tide of post-war socialism and state interventionism. Through interlocking investments, shareholder pacts, cascading holding companies and shared directorships, Mediobanca stood at the centre of the so-called salotto buono, or fine drawing room, a group that included important enterprises like Fiat, Pirelli, Generali and Rizzoli- Corriere della Sera. The bank was a frenemy of the state. Under Chief Executive Alberto Nagel who most days is nearly as likely to be found in the City of London as Milan today s Mediobanca is unwinding this cat s cradle of capital, freeing up funds for more productive uses than calling the shots at other companies, and investing anew in its capital markets and advisory businesses. Indeed, days after hosting the gathering last month to celebrate a new book of Cuccia s letters and speeches, the bank agreed with other shareholders to dissolve the Chinese box they had used to control Telecom Italia. Foreign capital, from Spain s Telefonica, will take their place. Italy has a market economy characterised by high per capita GDP and low unemployment rates. In 2012, it was the ninthlargest economy in the world and the fifth-largest in Europe in terms of nominal GDP, and the tenth-largest economy in the world and fourth-largest in Europe in terms of PPP. Italy has a smaller number of global multinational corporations than other economies of comparable size, but there is a large number of small and mediumsized enterprises, notoriously clustered in several industrial districts, which are the backbone of the Italian industry. There s more reform on the horizon. Mediobanca will probably reduce the size of its board from an unwieldy 23 directors to as few as 15 in coming months, a compliance with Bank of Italy rules that s not unwelcome inside the bank. It won t be long before the shareholders pact that pools around 30 percent of Mediobanca s own shares will dissolve entirely. Since kicking off its strategic reform plan last June, the bank has divested 800 million euros of equity. And as Mediobanca goes, so does the rest of the galaxy of companies formerly in its orbit. Fiat long ago shifted its orientation away from Italy with the acquisition of Chrysler. Though Mediobanca will continue to maintain a hefty stake in Generali, the insurer is being run by a professional manager, Mario Greco, who argues that the company s future as an independent company resides in its ability to generate returns, not manipulate corporate governance. Where the rubber really has met the road, however, has been at Pirelli. Over the past year, the tire company has had to collapse the Byzantine chain of holding companies through which Marco Tronchetti Provera has exercised control since taking the wheel in The catalyst wasn t just Mediobanca, but a feud with another shareholder, the Malacalza family, which forced Tronchetti to seek the help of a private equity fund, Clessidra, led by Claudio Sposito. In exchange for buying out the Malacalzas, Clessidra attached strings to its investment again the kind that international investors generally demand. These included a right to auction Pirelli off in a few years. Tronchetti has since swapped Clessidra for Rosneft, the Russian oil producer run by Vladimir Putin s close ally Igor Sechin. Though the trade probably staves off a sale of Pirelli any time soon, the move to clean up the chain of control, and make it more accountable to public shareholders, was accomplished. Bereft of Milanese capitalism s once-reliable levers of power be they shareholder pacts, cascading holding companies, Mediobanca or even the cocoon of state ownership the independence of corporate Italy will depend on competent managers producing top-notch products and services in free and competitive markets. Not all of them will survive. But those that do will be world class.

26 26 GECM & TENDERS US stocks drop a second day as internet, biotech shares slump NEW YORK: US shares extended a sell-off Tuesday, with the Nasdaq Composite Index sliding the most in two months, as Raymond James & Associates said equities are vulnerable to losses and Citigroup Inc. cited investor concerns for a severe pullback. Twitter Inc. and Pandora Media Inc., which trade at more than 150 times earnings, plunged at least 7 percent to pace a Dow Jones gauge of Internet shares to the biggest drop since May. Brazil inflation rate exceeds official target range in June BRASILIA: Consumer prices provided another dose of worrisome economic news for Brazil, as the inflation rate exceeded the government s official target range in June. The 12-month IPCA inflation index rose to 6.52pc last month, up from 6.37pc in May, Brazil s statistics agency IBGE said Tuesday. The upper range of the government s target is 6.5pc. GLOBAL ECONOMIC CRISIS MAP (GECM) Pound falls as UK trade deficit widens more-than-expected LONDON: The data from the Office for National Statistics showed that the UK visible trade deficit widened in May as the increase in imports exceeded the growth in exports. The visible trade deficit widened to GBP 9.2 billion from GBP 8.8 billion in April. Economists had forecast a shortfall of GBP 8.75 billion. German inflation picks up but remains low BERLIN: The rate of inflation in Germany picked up in June, data from the country s statistics office Destatis showed Friday, confirming the preliminary estimate published two weeks ago. In harmonized European terms, prices increased by 0.4pc on the month in June and were up 1.0% on the year. South Africa s rand mostly flat, market lacks drivers JOHANNESBURG: The South African rand was flat against the dollar for most of Wednesday s session, reflecting a dearth of local economic data and news to direct the market. Investors are keeping an eye on ongoing efforts to end a wage strike by metal and engineering workers that has entered its second week. India trade deficit affects rupee: Economic Survey NEW DELHI: (IBNS) The Economic Survey , presented Wednesday in the Lok Sabha by Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, has noted that as India had a large trade deficit in the first quarter, negative market perceptions led to sharper outflows in the foreign institutional investors (FIIs) investment debt segment, leading to 13.0 per cent depreciation of the rupee between May 2013 and August China leads Asia shares lower on soft China inflation figures BEIJING: stocks led Asia lower on Wednesday, as disappointing inflation data from China and an overnight fall on Wall Street weighed. Hong Kong leads Asia shares lower on soft China inflation figures Asia shares weaker The Hang Seng Index dropped 1.4pc and the Shanghai Composite was down 0.2pc after China released softer-than-expected June inflation data, with the consumer-price index up 2.3pc from a year earlier, compared with an expected 2.4pc, and slower than the 2.5pc seen in May. Every Sunday Japanese shares retreat after weekly gain as Aeon tumbles TOKYO: Japanese stocks fell, after the Topix index (TPX) capped its biggest weekly gain in a month, as energy explorers and Aeon Co. tumbled. Inpex Corp. sank 1.9 percent as oil explorers dropped the most among the 33 Topix industry groups. Moody s rates Australia s economic strength as very high SYDNEY: Global ratings agency Moody s says Australia s economic strength is very high and its susceptibility to financial risks very low. In its latest credit analysis on Australia, Moody s predicts that the economy will grow between 2.6 per cent and 3 per cent per annum over the next five years. TENDERS No. COMPANY TENDER NO. SUBJECT 1 GT GT GT GT14MT ST14MT GT LT Decommissioning and removal of 12 MPPL & 13KM X 30 pipeline Epic for mechanical PCRS within Dukhan fields Marine maintenance services at Mesaieed and Ras Laffan ports Stocking and supply of floating equipment, downwhole cementing equipment and services for offshore & onshore wells on call-off basis for a period of three (3) years Sale and removal of crane (35 ton) and air compressor Feed for fiscal metering facilities facilities & produced water system Re-tubing of 18 nos. tube bundles of heath exchangers at QP refinery, Mesaieed TENDER BOND TENDER FEES CLOSING DATE QR 1200,000 QR /07/2014 QR 260,000 QR 500 3/8/2014 QR2200, QR /07/2014 QR 850,000 QR 1,000 27/07/2014 Qr 2,000 Free 21/07/204 (12:00 hrs) QR 500,000 QR 500 3/8/2014 QR 50,000 QR /07/2014 No. COMPANY TENDER NO. SUBJECT 21 GTC 651/ LTC 834/2014 Provision of meters oepration, inspection and maintenance services four year contract Supply of Barco tele-control spares (projector lamp and digital graphic cards) TENDER BOND TENDER FEES QR 300,000 QR 2,000 QR 10,000 QR LTC 830/2014 Intel based server for DR Data center QR 20,000 QR Qatar Museums Authority QMA AF/C/ ASP5497/14 Rebuilding (interior fit out works) of AL Riwqa Gallery at MIA (Museum of Islamic arts, corniche road, Doha) For Qatar-Brazil exhibition (work include gallery wall, re-building, gallery lighting re-installation, gallery wall painting and labelling etc) Supply, delivery, testing and commissioning of Air dehumidifer and extract system for new hydrotherapy pool at Orthopedic Hospital at Aspire Zone CLOSING DATE 14/08/2014 (Not later than 12pm) 24/08/2014 Not later than 11:00 am 20/07/2014 not later than 11:00am QR 244,000 QR /07/2014 QR 15,000 QR /07/ GT Epic for replacement of CS piping with incoloy 825 at RG plant in Dukhan fields QR 250,000 QR 500 3/8/ AF/M/ AL2045R1/14 Provision of cleaning and janitorial services at Aspire Zone QR 1,200,000 QR 4,000 20/07/ GT GT Epic for replacement of Deluge piping and open drain at NFA Site cleaning services on call-off basis in Dukhan fields0 QR 1000, QR 500 3/8/2014 QR 180,000 QR /07/ AF/C/AF5531/14 Design, supply, installation, testing and commissioning, operation and comprehensive maintenance of TSE polishing treatment (Reverse Osmosis RO) plant at Aspire Zone QR 1,200,000 QR 4,000 20/07/ LT Epic for centralized weather monitoring system network within Dukhan fields QR 130,000 N/A 3/8/ LT Upgrade of CSF security systems at RLC QR 100,000 QR /07/ AF/C/AL5528/14 Design-build of car part shades at new fitness cneter car parking area in Aspire Park QR 22,000 QR /07/ LT ST14MT ST14MT ST14MT ST14MT LTC 828/ LTC 830/ LTC 826/2014 Consultancy services for the Prov. Of R&M strategies study Sale and removal of motors, warm assembly cables, electrical, terminal junct, battery, storage solid electrolyte, terminal/tubing kits etc Sale and remvoal of ABB breakers, turbine/anti-surge control panel, detectors, generators, cables, fire horn/ strobe fire system, switches, sensors, instrument/electrical items and fire water tanks etc. Sale and removal of pipeline (different sizes) yard piping, valves, with head spools/supports and Y-type strainers Sale and removal of impeller pumps, weighing scale, flippers (sweepers), trolly, bladder, pressure tank, forklift manual and spares Supply of 132kv straight joints, sealing ends, 1x 630 MM2 cabel and earth link boxes Oracle DBA consultant professional services Two (2) years price agreement for supply of HRC fuse links and time limit fuses QR 50,000 N/A 3/8/2014 QR 2,000 QR 2,000 Qr 2,000 Qr 2,000 Free Free Free Free QR 20,000 QR 500 QR 20,000 QR 500 QR 150,000 QR /07/2014 (12:00hrs) 21/07/2014 (12:00hrs) 21/07/2014 (12:00hrs) 21/07/2014 (12:00hrs) 13/07/2014 (Not later than 11:00) 20/07/2014 Not later than 11:00am 24/08/2014 Not later than 11:00 am 29 AF/C/ AL5470R1/14 30 GTC 656/ GTC 657/ QF/2013/ QF/2013/794 Supply and design delivery of Biohazard & Toilets pedl-operated Buns to Aspire logistics Call-off contract for civil replacement and maintenance works of existing ID/ OD sub-stations Call-off contract for direct service connections (electricity) 5 nos. locomotives (head) and 15 Nos. Coach (road trains) custom-made by Toyota 4 Nos. Mercedes E-280 Model 2007, ford edge and mustang shelby model 2013 QR 7,000 QR /07/2014 QR 1,350,000 QR 3,000 14/08/2014 QR 360,000 QR 1,000 QR 50,000 QR 200 QR 10,000 QR QF/2014/867 Mscellaneous spare parts QR 5,000 QR Supreme Council of Health Ministry of economy and Commerce ( state of Qatar) SCH/GTC/ QCHP/068/2014 MW001 Development and installation of national E-complaint handling and patient safety alert system Development and operation of warehouses and the internal infrastructure in three areas (Umm Shahren, Bu Fesela, & Bu Sulba0 with an approx. area of 500,000 m2 QR 30,000 QR 200 QR 10,000,000 QR 2,500 14/08/2014 Not later than 11:00am 3 August 2014 at 2pm 3 August 2014 at 2pm 3 August 2014 at 2pm Monday, 04/08/ :00hrs 17th of July 2014

27 SPORT 27 Yamaha rider Pol Espargaro crashes during the training session of the German Motorcycle Grand Prix at the Sachsenring racing circuit in Hohenstein-Ernstthal yesterday. RIGHT: Repsol Honda Team s Spanish rider Marc Marquez in action during the third practice session. Marquez on pole for German MotoGP World champ sets lap record for course as he looks to win nine out of nine races SACHSENRING: Spanish world champion Marc Marquez will start his bid for a perfect nine out of nine start to the MotoGP season in pole posiiton after yesterday s qualfying. Marquez, on a Honda, will start from the front of the grid for the seventh time this campaign after an almost faultless session at the Sachsenring circuit. It also included a lap record for the course, eclipsing the previous best set by Australia s former world champion Casey Stoner back in Factory Hondas filled the first three places in qualifying, as another Spaniard, Dani Pedrosa, took second, nearly 0.3sec behind Marquez, with Germany s Stefan Bradl third. Yamaha took the next three slots on the grid, the best performanmce coming from Aleix Espargaro, on an NGM Forward Racing Yamaha, who had clocked the fastest times in both of Friday s practice sessions. World championship leader Marc Marquez was clearly much more at his ease in qualifying than he had been on Friday, when he struggled to finish second behind Espargaro, after shrugging off a painful crash in the day s first session. Marquez hurt his neck in the crash which was caused by a problem with the gears on his Blake injured again in Diamond League GLASGOW: Yohan Blake s return from injury ended in despair as the Jamaican sprinter suffered a hamstring injury during the Glasgow Diamond League meeting on Friday. Blake, the second-fastest man in history, has been plagued by fitness issues for much of the past two years and, in just his second race this season, he left the track at Hampden Park in a wheelchair after more problems. The 24-year-old was slow out of the blocks in the 100 metres final and looked uncomfortable as the race reached midway. Yohan Blake of Jamaica falls during the men s 100m event during the IAAF Diamond League athletics meet at Hampden Park in Glasgow on Friday. The Olympic silver medallist then suddenly pulled up and fell to the track as his compatriot Nickel Ashmeade edged out American Michael Rodgers by a fraction after both finished in 9.97 seconds. Fellow Jamaican Nesta Carter was just a hundredth of a second behind as the fastest ever 100- metre run in Scotland ended with three men under 10 seconds. Blake had been accused of chasing cash over medals after he snubbed this month s Commonwealth Games in the city in favour of running at the money-spinning Diamond League meet. But his warning that he was not fit enough to run in both competitions proved correct. Britain s James Dasaolu, who finished fourth on a season s best time of seconds, said: I didn t really see what happened to Yohan. We sprinters are taught to focus only on what is going on in our own lane. But this event requires maximum effort and his fall just shows what happens when you are carrying these types of injuries. You have to go at 100 percent and anything out of place slightly can blow. You are very delicate but you have to be just right when you are running against sub-10 guys. A shadow had been cast on the event after London 2012 hero Mo Farah pulled out last week. The double Olympic champion, who still hopes to make Glasgow 2014 in a fortnight s time, had been scheduled to run in today s two-mile race but withdrew when he was struck down with abdominal pains while training in the United States. But home favourite Elidh Child gave the 12,000-strong crowd at Hampden a night to remember as she recorded the second quickest 400m hurdles ever run by a Scottish female. The Perth athlete impressively outclassed a high-quality field, including three rivals who had personal bests quicker than her own. And the 27-year-old put down a fine marker ahead of the Commonwealths by finishing in seconds just 0.17 off her own Scottish record. Heptathlete Katarina Johnson-Thompson showed why she is favourite for gold at the Commonwealth Games with a personal best 6.92m to finish second in the long jump. The Liverpool athlete continued her stunning form this year to come within three centimetres of the British record. Shara Proctor, the holder of that record and now the only woman above Johnson-Thompson on the British all-time list, had to settle for third with 6.82m. all-conquering machine, but showed no ill-effects on his way to pole yesterday. Marquez is chasing a ninth win in nine races today with the flying Spaniard on course to have the title wrapped up in record time. The Honda rider has a 72-point lead in the championship with team-mate Pedrosa and Italy s Yamaha rider Valentino Rossi, both of whom have just signed new deals with their respective teams, locked in second spot. Marquez, 21, already has a successful track record at the Sachsenring having won on his last four visits in the 125 class in 2010, in Moto2 in 2011 and 2012 and in his first MotoGP last year. Chris Bosh NBA: Bosh inks $118m deal to stay in Miami MIAMI: The Miami Heat went on the offensive after losing LeBron James on Friday by agreeing to a massive five-year, $118m deal to retain nine-time All-Star Chris Bosh, according to a Yahoo report. Free agent James had broken up Miami s so-called Big Three by announcing he would return to his home state of Ohio and sign with the Cleveland Cavaliers after winning two NBA titles with Miami. James agreed to a reported four-year, $88m deal. Bosh, who averaged 16.2 points and 6.6 rebounds, had appeared headed to the Houston Rockets, who had offered him four years and $88m to join Dwight Howard and James Harden before the Heat upped the ante after the exit by James. The third member of the prodigious trio, Dwyane Wade, was also widely expected to remain in Miami. The 32-year-old Wade, who has been battling injury problems, predated James and Bosh with the Heat and won an NBA title there in 2006 along with Shaquille O Neal, and would likely be more valued by Miami than any other NBA team. The decision by James to sign with the Cavaliers was expected to set off a chain of free agent signings. Victory today will mean he would have won every race across the opening half of the season. In a stunning season, the defending champion has already become the 13th most successful rider of all-time in terms of wins, having celebrated his 40th victory at Assen two weeks ago. He now targets a 25th podium in the elite class having become the first rider to claim eight straight wins since the top category was introduced at the start of Only six other riders in history having won eight or more MotoGP races in a single season. ATHENS, GEORGIA: The comeback of Michael Phelps continued in impressive fashion on Friday as the most decorated Olympian of all time beat rival Ryan Lochte in the 100-metre butterfly and notched up the second fastest time of the year in Athens, Georgia. Phelps posted a 51.67, his first swim under 52 seconds this year, in just his fourth meet after a 20-month retirement. I wanted to get under 52, Phelps said. I was sick and tired of seeing He easily beat his times in the event from his previous three meets but still has work to do to match his winning time from the 2012 London Games. I am very pleased with being able to go 51, he added. But in the grand scheme of things, I think it s just a small stepping stone to go where we hope to be. I always set high expectations for myself, no matter what I m doing. Qualifying Times Qualifying times ahead of the ninth round of the 2014 world championship today MotoGP 1. Marc Marquez (ESP/Honda) 1:20.937, 2. Dani Pedrosa (ESP/Honda) at 0.296, 3. Stefan Bradl (GER/ Honda LCR) 0.403, 4. Aleix Espargaro (ESP/Yamaha Forward) 0.439, 5. Jorge Lorenzo (ESP/Yamaha) 0.571, 6. Valentino Rossi (ITA/Yamaha) 0.714, 7. Andrea Iannnone (ITA/Ducati Pramac) 0.742, 8. Pol Espargaro (ESP/Yamaha Tech 3) 0.834, 9. Bradley Smith (GBR/Yamaha Tech 3) 0.857, 10. Alvaro Bautista (ESP/Honda) Moto2 1. Dominique Aegerter (SUI/Suter) 1:24.761, 2. Mika Kallio (FIN/Kalex) at 0.124, 3. Esteve Rabat (ESP/ Kalex) 0.271, 4. Jordi Torres (ESP/Suter) 0.347, 5. Franco Morbidelli (ITA/Kalex) 0.357, 6. Simone Corsi (ITA/Kalex) 0.371, 7. Johann Zarco (FRA/Caterham Suter) 0.381, 8. Thomas Luthi (SUI/Suter) 0.427, 9. Alex de Angelis (SMR/Suter) 0.479, 10. Randy Krummenacher (SUI/Suter) Moto3 1. Jack Miller (AUS/KTM) 1:26.997, 2. Alexis Masbou (FRA/Honda) at 0.109, 3. Alex Marquez (ESP/ Honda) 0.146, 4. Karel Hanika (CZE/KTM) 0.360, 5. Danny Kent (GBR/Husqvarna) 0.360, 6. Brad Binder (RSA/Mahindra) 0.456, 7. Alex Rins (ESP/Honda) 0.588, 8. Eric Granado (BRA/KTM) 0.606, 9. Juanfran Guevara (ESP/Kalex KTM) 0.676, 10. Enea Bastianini (ITA/KTM) Phelps easily wins butterfly event NFL Player At Aspire Michael Phelps swims in a preliminary heat of the men s 100-meter butterfly at the Bulldog Grand Slam swimming meet at the University of Georgia in Athens, USA, yesterday. (Coach) Bob (Bowman) and I have a plan of what I want to do. He knows what it s going to take to get there. Only Russian Vyacheslarus Prudnikov (51.60) has been faster this year. Lochte was second in with Matthew Josa third in Lochte was victor in the only other meeting between he and Phelps this year, but is on his own comeback trail after aggravating a knee injury in April. The Bulldog Grand Slam continued at the University of Georgia here yesterday with Phelps scheduled to swim the 100m backstroke as he prepares for the August 6-10 US Championships in Irvine, California, ahead of the Pan Pacific Championships on the Gold Coast in Australia NFL player Husain Abdulla at a dinner hosted by Khalid Abdullah Al Sulaiteen, CEO of Aspire Zone Foundation, in Doha yesterday. This year s Ramadan activities brought an American Football delegation to Aspire Zone in order to promote the sport in Qatar. The dinner was held to express thanks to the US delegation.

28 28 Frenchman Kadri wins stage eight Tour de France: Nibali retains yellow jersey GERARDMER, France: Alberto Contador ignited the yellow jersey battle yesterday as Blel Kadri became the first home stage winner at this year s Tour de France. Kadri rode to a solo victory after attacking his fellow escape companions in the final 25km of the 161km eighth stage from Tomblaine and came in more than two minutes ahead of Contador. But it was the Spaniard who set the overall victory race alight as he clawed back three seconds on yellow jersey wearer Vincenzo Nibali. But the 29-year-old Sicilian played down the importance of Contador s gain. On the final climb Alberto kept attacking but I managed to follow him quite comfortably, said the Astana team leader. The finish was 1.8km and really steep. It wasn t really ideally suited to my characteristics, I m not really explosive. I got the wrong gear and he accelerated straight afterwards. The important thing was that I was there. He took three seconds in the last 100 metres but I don t know how significant that can be. Nibali added: I m happy with my form. There are much more important climbs to come. It was the first real opportunity for the overall favourites to stretch their legs in an uphill finish and the results were remarkable. Nibali lost time only to Tinkoff-Saxo leader Contador, but Richie Porte, the new Team Sky leader after reigning champion Chris Froome s withdrawal on Wednesday, gave notice of his intent by losing just four seconds to the Italian as he came in fourth. I m happy with how that went, it is not really my bread and butter and I think that on the longer climbs I will be better, Porte told ITV4. Tinkoff-Saxo are riding very aggressively from a long way out, a bit like Team Sky used to do. Porte moved up to third overall at 1min 58sec but the bigger mover was Contador, up 10 places to sixth at 2:34. Nibali s team-mate and chief domestique Jakob Fuglsang is second overall but he lost 1:42 to his leader and is only 14sec ahead of Porte. His time in the leading places will almost certainly end on Monday s gruelling mountain stage, if not before. While yesterday s stage, with one third category climb and two second category ones, did not seem particularly tough on paper, Tinkoff-Saxo s acceleration in the final 25km sorted out which favourites were in form and which ones will have to wait for another year. Alejandro Valverde, now fifth overall at 2:27, lost 16sec to Nibali and Tejay Van Garderen gave up 20sec. The American is now 13th at 3:34, having lost more than a minute due to a crash Friday. Andrew Talansky crashed for the second day in a row at the end of the stage and lost more than two minutes to now sit 16th SPORT Ag2r La Mondiale Procycling team rider Blel Kadri of France celebrates on the podium after winning the 8th stage of the 101st Tour de France cycling race, over 161 km from Tomblaine to Gerardmer La Mauselaine, in France, yesterday. Two share lead at John Deere Classic SILVIS, United States: Americans Zach Johnson (pictured) and William McGirt both made bogey on their final holes as they share the lead after the second round of the US PGA Tour s John Deere Classic yesterday. Former Masters champion Johnson shot a four-under 67 while McGirt, who started his round on the 10th hole, fired a 66 at the Deere Run course to reach 12-under-par 130. Johnson has 11 US PGA Tour wins, while McGirt is looking for his first tour victory. Once again, a pretty solid day. Aside from maybe one poor miss, pretty solid, Johnson said. I didn t do anything too flashy. My short game was decent. My putting was great. Even the ones I missed were great. Johnson Wagner bogeyed his final hole to fall out of a share of Time running out for Tiger at majors WASHINGTON: Tiger Woods (pictured) enters next week s British Open at Royal Liverpool needing a victory to keep pace with Jack Nicklaus in major wins while his injury-ravaged body tries to turn back the clock. The 38-year-old American has won 14 major titles, but none since the 2008 US Open as he tries to overtake the all-time record of 18 majors won by Nicklaus, who captured his 15th major at age 38 at the 1978 British Open at St. Andrews. Woods won the Claret Jug the last time he played at Hoylake in the 2006 British Open, but this year he has managed to finish 72 holes only once without battling severe pain, that in Dubai back in early February. Woods underwent back surgery on March 31 to ease pressure on a pinched nerve and was idle for 109 days until making a comeback two weeks ago just outside Washington at the US PGA National, firing 74 and 75 to miss the cut at Congressional Country Club. But such is the woeful state of Tour de France Results and Standings GERARDMER, France: Leading results from the 8th stage of the Tour de France, a 161km ride from Tomblaine to Gerardmer, yesterday: 1. Blel Kadri (FRA/ALM) 3hr 49min 28sec 2. Alberto Contador (ESP/TIN) at 2: Vincenzo Nibali (ITA/AST) 2: Richie Porte (AUS/SKY) 2: Thibaut Pinot (FRA/FDJ) 2: Jean-Christophe Peraud (FRA/ALM) 2: Alejandro Valverde (ESP/MOV) 2: Tejay Van Garderen (USA/BMC) 2: Romain Bardet (FRA/ALM) 2: Sylvain Chavanel (FRA/IAM) 2:54. Overall standings Overall standings after the 8th stage of the Tour de France, a 161km ride from Tomblaine to Gerardmer, yesterday: 1. Vincenzo Nibali (ITA/AST) 33hr 48min 52sec 2. Jakob Diemer Fuglsang (DEN/AST) at 1: Richie Porte (AUS/SKY) 1: Michal Kwiatkowski (POL/OPQ) 2: Alejandro Valverde (ESP/MOV) 2: Alberto Contador (ESP/TIN) 2: Romain Bardet (FRA/ALM) 2: Rui Costa (POR/LAM) 2: Bauke Mollema (NED/BKN) 3: Jurgen Van den Broeck (BEL/LTB) 3:02. Woods game that back-to-back healthy rounds, no matter how far over par, was considered a positive achievement as he faces his first major since the surgery. I hate to say it but I m really encouraged by what happened this week, Woods said two weeks ago in his most recent public comments. What I was able to do physically and the speed I had and distance that I was hitting the golf ball again, I had not done that in a very long time. And to recover like I did overnight, still leery about it, How am I going to recover? Felt great. Woods was inconsistent off the tee and on the green and blamed his struggles on minor problems he declared fixable before the British Open. I made so many little mistakes -- missing the ball on the wrong sides, not having the right feel for certain shots, not judging the wind correctly and speed on putts -- all the little things that I know I can fix. But as I said, that s very encouraging. What s discouraging is the lead. Wagner carded a 65 and he shares third place at 11-under with Australia s Steven Bowditch (67) and Brian Harman (68). Three-time champion Steve Stricker (65), Rory Sabbatini (70), Ryan Moore (67) and former British Open winner Todd Hamilton (69) are tied for sixth at nine-under-par 133. At the par-five 17th, Johnson reached the green in two and two-putted for birdie to take a one-shot lead. But he missed the 18th green with his approach and walked off with a closing bogey that dropped him into a tie for the lead. He was pleased with his round overall. A lot of positives all around, he said. I m just really comfortable here. Any wind, for the most part, I m comfortable and any conditions. The greens were receptive, so if you had the right yardage seeing how far his form has fallen from the icon who launched Tigermania with an epic 1997 Masters win, took four majors in a row and seven of 11 from 1999 to 2002, then ran off six major wins in 14 tries from the 2005 Masters to the 2008 US Open. Since then, he has battled numerous knee and leg injuries, coped with the aftermath of his infamous sex scandal and divorce, changed his swing to ease the load on his knees and faced back pain with the pinched nerve that left him bed-ridden at one stage -- all while a younger generation of rivals he inspired have come of age and started winning majors themselves. at 4:22. Kadri was part of a fiveman breakaway that pulled out a lead of more than 11 minutes at one point. By the time the first of the three climbs arrived, the peloton had shaved more than six minutes off that lead. Frenchman Sylvain Chavanel attacked on the Col de la Croix des Moinats but Kadri countered and rode away from his compatriot. with the right club, there s some aggressive shots you can have out there. A day that I felt like I left some out there, but I felt like I stole a couple, too. McGirt has missed the cut in five of his last eight tournaments but he looked sound on Friday. Even an equipment malfunction couldn t slow him down. I was very pleased with it, McGirt said. I struggled early. I m pretty sure I cracked my driver, but couldn t get a replacement. All in all, it was a solid day. Nothing really happened on the back side starting out, then I made the turn and (caught fire). I ll take two more just like. McGirt made it two birdies in a row with a 13-foot putt on the 13th. That moved him to 13-under. He made bogey at the ninth, his last, to drop to 12-under. PGA John Deere Classic Scores SILVIS, United States: Scores yesterday after the second round of the $4.7m John Deere Classic (par 71, USA unless noted): 130 Zach Johnson 63-67, William McGirt Steven Bowditch (AUS) 64-67, Johnson Wagner 66-65, Brian Harman Rory Sabbatini (RSA) 63-70, Steve Stricker 68-65, Ryan Moore 66-67, Todd Hamilton Charles Howell 66-68, Jerry Kelly 66-68, Kevin Na 68-66, Kevin Tway 65-69, Bud Cauley 67-67, Robert Streb Stewart Cink 69-66, J.J. Henry 68-67, David Toms 65-70, Tim Clark (RSA) 72-63, Jordan Spieth Bo Van Pelt 67-69, Justin Hicks 66-70, Alex Prugh 68-68, Wes Roach Birthday girl Park heads leaderboard SOUTHPORT, United Kingdom: South Korea s Park Inbee celebrated her 26th birthday by grabbing a one-shot lead at the Women s British Open after compatriot Ahn Sun Ju was penalised two strokes. Women s British Open Scores SOUTHPORT, United Kingdom: Leading third round scores yesterday at the Women s British Open at Royal Birkdale (par 72): 212 Park Inbee (KOR) Suzann Pettersen (NOR) , Feng Shanshan (CHN) , Ahn Sun Ju (KOR) Amelia Lewis (USA) , Julieta Granada (PAR) Charley Hull (GBR) , Stacy Lewis (USA) , Ji Eun-Hee (KOR) , Amy Yang (KOR) , So Yeon Ryu (KOR) , Mo Martin (USA) , Beatriz Recari (ESP) Marina Alex (USA) , Angela Stanford (USA) , Gwladys Nocera (FRA) The peloton was closing in but Kadri had the strength to resist as all his escape companions were swallowed up. It was the 27-year-old s first Tour stage victory and he also took possession of the polkadot jersey for best climber. It was crazy. I tried to match (team-mate) Christophe Riblon s achievements (he won stages in 2010 and 2013) from the past, said AG2R s Kadri. With a third round four under par 68, the former world number one claimed the lead after a dramatic end to the third day at Royal Birkdale. Ahn thought she had taken the lead on five under par after a 69. But she was then penalised two shots for infringing Rule 13-3/3 -- in a greenside bunker at the final hole, she was deemed to have built a stance and so was docked the two shots for a 71. It put her on three under par and in a share of second place with Norway s Suzann Pettersen and China s Feng Shanshan. Pettersen, a two-time major winner, had a 68, while Feng, the 2012 LPGA Champion, shot 69. Ahn, with 26 wins in Korea and Japan, admitted it had been pure ignorance which had caused the penalty. I didn t know about the rule but all I was doing was trying to make a stance, said the 26-year-old. I am surprised by it but if that s the rule then I have to abide by it and just refocus. The ball was placed on a very upslope lie so it was hard to make a stance. Rio Olympics in the spotlight after 2014 FIFA World Cup RIO DE JANEIRO: The Rio de Janeiro 2016 summer Olympics move firmly into the spotlight this week with the International Olympic Committee in town to monitor progress and the football World Cup wrapping up. The Olympics are the country s second global sports event it has committed itself to staging and following the end of the world s biggest single sports event today, Rio enters the final stretch of delivering a troubled project. Called the worst ever preparations by IOC Vice President John Coates as recently as April, Rio organisers have been with their backs to the wall from the start, trying to play catchup with a schedule they had fallen behind. IOC President Thomas Bach met Brazil President Dilma Rousseff in Brasilia on Friday before returning to Rio to attend the World Cup final. We are seeing great progress and appreciate the commitment of the president and the government of Brazil for the Games, Bach told reporters. We believe they will be very successful. The German lawyer took charge of the IOC after winning elections in September and has been trying to instil a sense of urgency with organisers ever since. Brazil had to face years of criticism in the run-up to the World Cup with delays in construction and completion of stadiums forcing world soccer s governing body FIFA to say organisers needed a kick up the backside. Fears of widespread protests and major problems with security and transportation failed to materialise during the monthlong tournament seen overall as successful and the IOC are hoping Olympic organisers had drawn valuable conclusions for their own 16-day event. The World Cup is a bit like a test event for the IOC, an Olympic source with direct knowledge of preparations told Reuters on condition of anonymity on Friday. To be able to learn from it and use that knowledge for the Rio Olympics. The source also said the IOC was explaining, explaining, explaining, in order to avoid a backlash from citizens over huge spending for the multi-billion dollar sports event as that directed against FIFA. While ordinary Brazilians supported their football team, many were angry at the billions their government spent for building or refurbishing stadiums and World Cup-related infrastructure projects instead of injecting the cash into social welfare projects. The IOC would be pumping what would amount eventually to about $1.5bn back towards local organisers through revenues generated for the event from sponsors and broadcasters, the official said. Meanwhile, the World Cup s success will help ease concerns over Rio de Janeiro s preparations for the 2016 Olympics, the city s mayor said, promising that everything will be ready on time. Two months after a top International Olympic Committee official said the preparations were the worst he had seen, Mayor Eduardo Paes insisted that venues would be ready for use, including the highly polluted Guanabara Bay. Delays building stadiums and social protests caused concerns about Brazil s buildup to the World Cup, but the tournament has taken place without any major incidents. I think all the criticism that we faced before the World Cup helped a lot to smooth concerns about the Olympic Games, Paes said ahead of today s Argentina- Germany final in Rio s Maracana Stadium. This mistrust that we had two months ago, we don t face anymore, he said in English to a group of foreign journalists. I m not saying that we have an easy task ahead of us. It s not easy to do the Olympics. We still have lots of work ahead of us, but we are confident that we will deliver things on time, Paes said. AGENCIES

29 SPORT Pots, process for handball draws announced DOHA: The International Handball Federation (IHF) has announced the pots and procedures for the draw event of the 24th Men s Handball World Championship, which will be held here from January 15 to February 1 next year. The draw will take place at the Ritz Carlton Hotel here on July 20 at 9.30pm and will be conducted by Leon Kalin, Chairman of the IHF Commission for Organising and Competition. Representatives of all 24 participating teams will attend the draw event, which will be held in the presence of the highest-ranked representatives of Root and Anderson bring delight to England camp The pair registers record 10th-wicket partnership in Test cricket NOTTINGHAM: England pair Joe Root and James Anderson broke the all-time Test record for a 10th-wicket partnership yesterday but the first test against India at Trent Bridge looks like ending in a draw. The home team took an unlikely 39-run lead on first innings after Root and Anderson combined for a remarkable stand of 198, beating the previous test best by 35, to lead their side to a total of 496. England then grabbed two late wickets to reduce India to 167 for three at the close of play. Murali Vijay (52), who made a century in the first innings, and Cheteshwar Pujara (55) both fell in the last hour to leave the visitors 128 runs ahead. Part-time spinner Moeen Ali claimed two wickets and paceman Liam Plunkett one. Virat Kohli (eight) and Ajinkya Rahane (18) were the not-out batsmen when stumps were drawn. Vijay and Pujara put on 91 for the second wicket until the latter cut Plunkett to Ben Stokes at point and the fielder hung on after initially fumbling the catch. On a pitch like that, that is quite unresponsive, if you play selectively like we did it s hard to get out, Root said. I actually quite enjoyed batting with Jimmy. It s the only time he s nice to me. He s normally quite grumpy and having a go at me so it makes a nice change. Tomorrow we re going to have to bowl very well and get a few early wickets, then you never know, added Root who also made 200 not out against Sri Lanka last month. The day belonged to Yorkshireman Root and 31-yearold Lancastrian Anderson, who produced the best score by an England number 11. England began the day on 352 for nine and the pair had to ride their luck on occasions. The 23-year-old Root was the backbone of the innings, farming the strike in brilliant fashion as he registered his fourth test century to rescue his team after they had collapsed to 202 for seven on Friday. Fast bowler Anderson carved out a career-best score until he edged the ball to Dhawan at first slip off Bhuvneshwar Kumar who returned test-best figures of five for 82. I had really good fun today, said the Lancastrian. It s probably the first time I ve really enjoyed batting. It was a great effort. We just seemed to get on a roll last night and overnight we both thought that we could actually annoy the Indians today and stay out there a little bit. Obviously we didn t think anything like this could happen. We knew we still had a job to do this morning and we stuck at it brilliantly, said Anderson. I wouldn t say it was easy but it was such a slow pitch that you knew there was only a few ways you could get out. If you had a good game plan you could stick in there. The record partnership meant it was the first time in tests that both sides had compiled last-wicket stands of three figures, following Kumar and Mohammed Shami s alliance of 111 on Thursday. Australia s Phil Hughes and Ashton Agar shared the previous record for the last-wicket stand when they put on 163 against England, ironically at the same ground last year. Root struck 15 fours in his 400-minute vigil while Anderson hit 17 fours in his 230-minute knock. India have not won a test away from home since 2011 while England have lost six of their last seven matches in the longest form of the game. There has not been a Test draw at Trent Bridge since De Kock, De Villiers fashion series victory South African captain AB de Villiers holds the ODI series trophy after the match at the Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium in Hambantota yesterday. the State of Qatar, the Local Organising Committee and the IHF. The qualified teams for the World Championship were seeded in six pots by the IHF and will be drawn in four groups for the preliminary round. Host and Asian champions Qatar were seeded in pot 3 together with African champions Algeria and the European teams from Russia and FYR Macedonia. As the host of the World Championship, Qatar has the prerogative to assign itself to a group of its choice after the remaining pots have been drawn. Defending world champions England s Joe Root leaves the field after scoring 154 not out during the first cricket Test match against India at Trent Bridge in Nottingham yesterday. HAMBANTOTA: Outstanding centuries from Quinton de Kock and captain AB de Villiers helped South Africa coast to a series-clinching 82-run win over Sri Lanka in the third and final one-day international yesterday. South Africa, winning the toss and batting first, raced to 339-5, their highest ODI total against Sri Lanka. In response, Sri Lanka made a blistering start with openers Kusal Perera (37) and Tillakaratne Dilshan (30) scoring 57 off 5.3 overs before the innings fell apart and they were all out for 257 in 44.3 overs. Sri Lanka were made to pay dearly for letting De Kock off the hook on 32 and on 71 as the South African wicketkeeper went on to score 128 off 127 balls (12 fours, 3 sixes), his fifth ODI century and the fourth in his last six matches. Man-of-the-Match De Villiers hit a sparkling 108 of 71 balls in reaching his 17th ODI hundred as the Sri Lankan bowlers struggled to find the right line, while battling against the strong winds that blew across the pitch. Spain are in pot 1 alongside European champions France, European silver medallist Denmark and Croatia, who were fourth at the 2014 European championship. The playing system for the 2015 World Championship is as follows. In the preliminary stage, the four groups will play on five match days each. After the completion of this stage, the four best-ranked teams from each group will proceed to the eighth-finals, in which the first ranked teams will face the fourth ranked and the second ranked teams will compete against the Scoreboard SOUTH AFRICA Hashim Amla c Senanayake b Herath...48 Q de Kock c Mendis b Senanayake J Kallis lbw Herath...4 A B de Villiers c Priyanjan b Mendis J P Duminy c&b Mendis...29 D Miller (not out)...4 R McLaren (not out)...2 Extras (B-4, LB-3, W-9)...16 Total (for 5 wkts in 50 overs) Fall of wickets: 1-118, 2-132, 3-248, 4-328, Bowling: Malinga ; Senanayake (2w); Mathews (6w); Mendis (1w); Herath ; Dilshan SRI LANKA K Perera c de Villiers b Parnell...37 De Kock and Hashim Amla (48) gave South Africa the base on which to build their record total with a stand of 118 for the first wicket. De Villiers then came to the crease and helped put the game beyond Sri Lanka s reach as he and De Kock hit 116 off 91 balls. Skipper Angelo Mathews top scored for Sri Lanka with 58 but third ranked teams. Those teams that finish the preliminary round in positions five and six in their groups will continue to play in the President s Cup, competing for ranking positions 16 to 24. The winners of the eighthfinals move to the quarterfinals, which are followed by the semi-finals and the medal matches. The winner directly qualifies for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro and the 2017 World Championship in France. Teams ranked in positions 2-6 book their tickets for the 2016 Olympic Qualification Tournaments. Scoreboard India (I innings): England (I innings): A Cook b Shami...5 S Robson lbw Sharma...59 G Ballance lbw Sharma...71 I Bell c Dhoni b Shami...25 J Root (not out) Moeen Ali c Dhawan b Shami...14 M Prior c Dhoni b Kumar...5 B Stokes c Dhoni b Kumar...0 S Broad lbw Kumar...47 L Plunkett b Kumar...7 J Anderson c Dhawan b Kumar...81 Extras (NB-13, W-4, B-6, LB-5)...28 Total (all out) Fall of wicket: Bowling: Kumar (1nb; 1w); Shami (3nb, 2w); Sharma (9nb, 1w); Jadeja ; Binny ; Vijay India (II innings): M Vijay c Prior b Moeen Ali...52 S Dhawan c&b Moeen Ali...29 C Pujara c Stokes b Plunkett...55 V Kohli (batting)...8 A Rahane (batting)...18 Extras (LB-2, NB-3)...5 Total (for 3 wkts) Fall of wicket: To bat: R Jadeja, M S Dhoni, S Binny, B Kumar, I Sharam, M Shami Bowling: Anderson ; Broad ; Plunkett (3nb) Moeen Ali ; Stokes T Dilshan (run out)...30 K Sangakkara c de Kock b McLaren...36 M Jayawardene c Steyn b Tahir...2 L Thirimanne b Duminy...22 A Mathews c Morkel b McLaren...58 A Priyanjan c de Kock b McLaren...30 S Senanayake c Kallis b Morkel...13 R Herath c de Kock b Morkel...1 A Mendis (not out)...0 L Malinga c&b Duminy...0 Extras (B-2, LB-4, NB-2, W-20)...28 Total (all out in 44.3 overs) Fall of wickets: 1-57, 2-107, 3-113, 4-113, 5-151, 6-234, 7-249, 8-257, Bowling: Steyn (7w); Morkel (2w); Parnell (1w); McLaren (2nb); Tahir (1w); Duminy (9w). the rest of their batsmen failed to kick on after getting off to good starts. Ryan McLaren was the pick of the South African bowlers, taking three wickets for 37. South Africa won the first ODI in Colombo by 75 runs and Sri Lanka won the second at Pallekele by 87 runs. Amla was named Man of the The pots of the draw Pot 1: Spain, France, Denmark, Croatia Pot 2: Bosnia-Herzegovina, Poland, Sweden, Slovenia Pot 3: Russia, Qatar, FYR Macedonia, Algeria Pot 4: Austria, Argentina, Belarus, Czech Republic Pot 5: Tunisia, Egypt, Brazil, Bahrain Pot 6: Iran, United Arab Emirates, Chile, Germany Series for his two centuries in the first two ODIs and 48 in the third. The two teams will meet in a two-test series starting at Galle on July 16 for which opening batsman Upul Tharanga is in line for his first Test appearance in seven years. Left-hander Tharanga s last test was against England in 2007 but he has been out of favour in the five-day game since, although he has been picked for one-day internationals. He replaces Dimuth Karunaratne in the 15-man squad, with fast bowlers Nuwan Pradeep and Nuwan Kulasekara and specialist wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene also left out. Pradeep and Jayawardene are injured while Kulasekara has been dropped in favour offspinner Ajantha Mendis, who played his last test against Bangladesh in February. Pradeep led the attack in the recent series victory over England, while Jayawardene missed the second test due to an injured thumb and was replaced by Dinesh Chandimal. Master CC post win 29 The mascot of the 24th Men s Handball World Championship The draw procedure First the teams from pot 6 will be drawn to the four respective groups, followed by pots 5, 4, 2 and 1. After a short entertainment break, host Qatar will announce the group they have chosen and then the three remaining teams from pot 3 will be drawn to the remaining groups. Sachithra Senanayake Sri Lanka s Senanayake banned over action LONDON: Off-spinner Sachithra Senanayake has been banned from international cricket for an illegal bowling action, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) said yesterday. Senanayake, 29, was reported during his side s five-match one-day international series in England in June and his action underwent assessment in Cardiff. Tests revealed he exceeded the allowed 15-degree flex in four deliveries considered to be suspect during the fourth match at Lord s. The report concludes that Sachithra bowled with an illegal bowling action and consequently he is banned from bowling in international cricket, effective immediately, a statement on the SLC website said. This matter will be referred to the SLC Cricket Committee for their recommendation. Senanayake, who has played one test, 37 ODIs and 17 Twenty20 matches for Sri Lanka, was allowed to continue playing while under investigation and appeared in all three of his country s recent 50-over matches against South Africa. DOHA: Master CC defeated Rawal County by four wickets in a match of the Ramadan Tournament at the West End Park Stadium on Friday. Rawal County won the toss and elected to bat. They managed to score 161 runs for the loss of five wickets in their stipulated 20 overs. In the second innings, Master CC took to their task with steely determination posting 162/6 in 19.3 overs. Khadeer hit 34 runs and Manjula scored 29 to help secure a crucial victory. Talha took two wickets and Naeem scalped one for Rawal but it wasn t enough to prevent a defeat. Mr. Michael Scallon, Head of Sport at West End Park, said: The matches continue to come thick and fast, competition is fierce to reach the quarter-final stages and things are going to become even more interesting as we approach the business end of the tournament. The organisers are very happy with the feedback thus far and will be watching the tournament with great interest as it develops. I would also like to thank Sprite, Vodafone, Doha Bank, Solo Events, Green Facilities, Century 21, U-Save Car Hire, Gulf Bridge Services for their continued support of the tournament, Scallon said. Matches begin daily at 7:45pm and entry is free for the public.

30 30 SPORT All eyes on Rio as Germany face Argentina in the World Cup final Philipp Lahm and Lionel Messi are ready to lead their teams in the title clash today RIO DE JANEIRO: Germany expect the experience that runs through their team to give them the edge over Argentina in today s World Cup final after admitting they restrained themselves when they thumped Brazil in the semi-finals. Germany ruined the samba nation s dream of winning the World Cup when they hammered Brazil 7-1 on Tuesday but forward Thomas Mueller revealed it could have been worse. The Europeans were leading 5-0 at halftime and decided during the break that they would not embarrass the hosts by showboating with fancy passes or trick shots. With the score the way it was, we said we should avoid being arrogant and to refrain from humiliating the opponent, Mueller said on Friday. There was this agreement and it came from the players themselves. Mueller, one of 10 names shortlisted for the Golden Boot award given to the best player of the tournament, said Germany were anticipating a much tougher match from Argentina so could not afford to let up at any stage against the South Americans. I m not expecting that we ll be ahead 5-0 at halftime again like against Brazil even though that would be nice, he said. It could end up being a tight match like against Algeria or France. But it doesn t matter. We know what we have to do. Germany captain Philipp Lahm also said there was no room for sentiment in the final, adding that his team was single-minded in their approach to the game. We re here to win the World Cup, he told reporters at Germany s secluded training camp at Santo Andre. The experience we ve got all the way through our team is definitely an edge for us. Regardless of the result, teh final will mark the end of the road for Argentina manager Alejandro Sabella, who is stepping down, according to his agent. A former midfielder who was capped eight times by Argentina, Sabella got involved in coaching after he retired as a player in 1989 and took on the national job in He s going. He s leaving whatever happens. Whether they are champions or not, a cycle is FACTBOX: Germany vs Argentina RIO DE JANEIRO: Where: At the Maracana, Rio de Janeiro Capacity: 74,738 When: Today (22:00 local time) PROBABLE TEAMS Germany: 1-Manuel Neuer; 16-Philipp Lahm, 20-Jerome Boateng, 5-Mats Hummels, 4-Benedikt Hoewedes; 7-Bastian Schweinsteiger, 6-Sami Khedira, 13-Thomas Mueller, 18-Toni Kroos, 8-Mesut Ozil; 11-Miroslav Klose Argentina: 1-Sergio Romero; 4-Pablo Zabaleta, 15-Martin Demichelis, 2-Ezequiel Garay, 16-Marcos Rojo; 14-Javier Mascherano, 6-Lucas Biglia, 8-Enzo Perez, 10-Lionel Messi; 22-Ezequiel Lavezzi, 9-Gonzalo Higuain Key stats Germany vs Argentina is the most frequently contested World Cup final, with Sunday s game marking their third clash for the biggest prize in football. Twice champions Argentina are returning to the final for the first time since losing 1-0 to West Germany in The South Americans won their first title in 1978, beating the Netherlands in the final, and their second in 1986 with a 3-2 win over West Germany. The Germans have won the world title three times, though all three triumphs were as West Germany (1954, 1974, 1990). Previous meetings: Argentina and Germany have played 20 times. Argentina have won nine, Germany seven with four draws. Head to head list: Argentina 1 West Germany World Cup Argentina 0 West Germany World Cup Argentina 3 West Germany Friendly Argentina 1 West Germany Friendly Argentina 1 West Germany Friendly Argentina 2 West Germany Gold Cup Argentina 1 West Germany Friendly Argentina 3 West Germany Friendly Argentina 3 West Germany World Cup (Final) Argentina 1 West Germany Friendly Argentina 0 West Germany Friendly Argentina 0 West Germany World Cup (Final) Argentina 2 Germany Friendly Argentina 1 Germany Friendly Argentina 2 Germany Friendly Argentina 2 Germany Confederations Cup Argentina 1 Germany 1 (2-4 on pens) 2006 World Cup Argentina 1 Germany Friendly Argentina 0 Germany World Cup Argentina 3 Germany Friendly Argentina s path to the final Group F Argentina 2 Bosnia 1 Argentina 1 Iran 0 Argentina 3 Nigeria 2 Last 16 Argentina 1 Switzerland 0 Quarter-final Argentina 1 Belgium 0 Semi-final Argentina 0 Netherlands 0 (4-2 pens) Germany s path to the final Group G Germany 4 Portugal 0 Germany 2 Ghana 2 Germany 1 United States 0 Last 16 Germany 2, Algeria 1 (aet) Quarter-final Germany 1 France 0 Semi-final Germany 7 Brazil 1 Statistics at this tournament: Games played: Argentina 6, Germany 6. Goals scored: Argentina 8, Germany 17. Goals from set piece: Argentina 1, Germany 3. Shots on target: Argentina 61, Germany 64. Corners awarded: Argentina 44, Germany 32. Fouls committed: Argentina 64, Germany 71. Yellow cards: Argentina 6, Germany 4. Red cards: Argentina 0, Germany 0. Distance ran per match: Argentina km, Germany 116 km. Passes completed: Argentina 2,928, Germany 3,421. Pass completion rate: Argentina 78 percent, Germany 82 percent Argentina player stats: Top scorer: Lionel Messi (4). Leading tackler: Javier Mascherano (18). Most shots: Angel di Maria (25). Most distance covered: Mascherano (67.2 km). Most passes completed: Mascherano (478) Germany players stats Top scorer: Thomas Mueller (5). Leading tackler: Benedikt Hoewedes (16). Most shots: Mueller (16). Most distance covered: Mueller (68.8 km). Most passes completed: Philipp Lahm (458) World Cup penalty shootout record 1982: West Germany beat France West Germany beat Mexico : Argentina beat Yugoslavia : Argentina beat Italy : West Germany beat England Argentina beat England : Germany beat Argentina Argentina beat Netherlands 4-2 A combination of file photos shows Argentina s forward and captain Lionel Messi (left) in Rio De Janeiro on June 15, 2014 and Germany s forward Miroslav Klose in Fortaleza on June 21, Germany face Argentina in the 2014 FIFA World Cup final in Rio de Janeiro today. ending, agent Eugenio Lopez said. Argentina were fined 300,000 Swiss francs ($336,000) by FIFA on Friday for failing to bring players for pre-match news conferences during the World Cup. However, the sport s world governing body did pick three of their players - Lionel Messi, Angel Di Maria and midfielder Javier Mascherano - for the Golden Boot shortlist. Germany had four players selected, Mueller and Lahm plus Mats Hummels and Toni Kroos, while Colombia midfielder James Rodriguez, Netherlands forward Arjen Robben and Brazil s Neymar, who was injured in the quarter-finals, were also nominated. Italian Nicola Rizzoli, a 42-year-old architect, was chosen as the referee for the showpiece game at the Maracana.ge past Argentina Meanwhile, Germany will feel no pressure in the World Cup final as they have the experience to cope with the biggest stage of all, midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger said yesterday. We are immensely happy. I don t think that we have any pressure. We have a lot of players who have played finals at top level we know how to deal with the situation even though we have only one player who has played in the World Cup final, he told a news conference at the Maracana Stadium. Schweinsteiger said that bigtime experience in the German squad meant they would be able to savour the moment but then focus clearly on the task ahead of them. We only think of one thing - to get the job done, he said. The blond-haired midfield general said the key to the match would be to show patience and deal with Argentina s main threats. We have to be patient. Argentina is for me a very, very good team who are deservedly in the final. They have world- class players with (Lionel) Messi, (Angel) Di Maria and Sergio Aguero. (Javier) Mascherano is the leading wolf - as he showed with the tackle against Arjen Robben to deny him a goal. You see what kind of attitude he has for his country. It will not be easy for us but if we show our quality on the pitch and we have the necessary cleverness we can beat this Argentina team. A photo taken on April 11, 2006 in Freiburg, Western Germany, shows Joachim Loew, German football national team s co-coach, posing near the trophy of the FIFA World Cup 2006 played in Germany. Notable German and Argentinian World Cup Quotes Ten of the most memorable Germany and Argentina quotes ahead of the World Cup final in Rio de Janeiro: GERMANY We enjoyed the game against Brazil, but we ticked it off after 24 hours. In the next game, we have to again play to the best of our abilities. World Cup record top scorer Miroslav Klose suggesting Germany have put aside the euphoria of their incredible 7-1 semi-final win. If we do win the trophy, I can imagine that I will relax and there is a party beast, even in me. Klose again, preparing to forgo his strict fitness regime to let his hair down should Germany claim a fourth title. We saw how the Dutch managed to keep Messi out, but we too have a special plan for him -- although I won t give that away. Assistant coach Hansi Flick keeping his cards close to his chest on how the Germans are planning to solve the conundrum of shackling four time World Footballer of the year Lionel Messi. My tip is, it s feasible Devout football fan and Chancellor Angela Merkel tipping a Germany win at the Maracana. The best German performance ever in a World Cup!! Simply fantastic!! A tweet after the 7-1 mauling of Brazil from 1990 World Cup winning striker Jurgen Klinsmann who coached Germany to third on home soil in ARGENTINA It s crazy. Let s enjoy it. We have one little step left. Lionel Messi enjoying the moment after the semi-final win over the Netherlands and anticipating what lies ahead in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday. He s the water in the desert. He finds solutions when we think there aren t any. Alejandro Sabella on what the footballing genius Messi brings to his team. Germany were always the favourites, along with Brazil, to win the World Cup. They continue to be so now. We need to play our own game and it suits us that all the pressure is on them. Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero placing the favourite s mantle firmly on Germany for the Maracana showdown. Penalties are all about luck, that is the reality. I had confidence and thanks to God it turned out well. Hero of the semi-final shoot-out Sergio Romero after stopping penalties from Ron Vlaar and Wesley Sneijder. Some of our players are sore, beaten, tired -- the results of a war, so to speak. Sabella assessing the state of his troops after Wednesday s gruelling triumph over the Dutch. Messi holds the key for defence too RIO DE JANEIRO: Lionel Messi is not only Argentina s key attacking threat but he is also instrumental in helping the defence. Long suspected as being their weak point, Argentina s defence have gone through three knockout matches, including two periods of extra-time, without conceding a goal. Messi s very presence inhibits Argentina s opponents from attacking them and both Belgium, in the quarter-finals, and Netherlands, in the semis, were both surprisingly subdued against Alejandro Sabella s team. Incredibly, the Dutch managed only one shot on target in the two hours play against Argentina. Argentina s strengths may be in attack but they generally avoid pouring forward in numbers, often leaving five or six players at the back as a safeguard. Despite the potential offered by the exciting talents of Messi, Angel Di Maria, Sergio Aguero and Ezequiel Lavezeei, they have been surprisingly cautious and have not served up the thrilling football many have expected of them, winning five games by a one-goal margin and the other on penalties. Fullbacks Pablo Zabaleta and Marco Rojo rarely venture very far over the halfway line and, even against Switzerland, where Argentina attacked non-stop for nearly two hours, they tended to hold back. The defence is given added protection by the presence of two holding midfielders, Javier Mascherano and either Fernando Gago or Lucas Biglia. Mascherano, who often plays as a central defender for Barcelona, has had an outstanding World Cup and produced arguably the tackle of the tournament when he dispossessed Arjen Robben just as the Dutchman appeared set to score a late winner. Mascherano often drops back alongside the two central defenders to help Argentina play the ball out of defence and is the main instigator of their attacks. Injuries have forced coach Alejandro Sabella to fiddle with his attack during the course of the competition. Aguero, who initially formed a two-man strike force with Gonzalo Higuain, missed the second round and quarter-finals with injury while Angel Di Maria missed the semi-final and is doubtful for the final. Against the Dutch, Argentina played with Lavezzi attacking down one flanks, Benfica midfielder Perez on the opposite flank and Higuain as the lone centre forward. Messi, who almost looked bored at times against Belgium, has taken on a playmaker role in the last two games, often slowing down play rather than simply launching himself at the opposing defence. There was one bizarre moment against Belgium when Argentina, leading 1-0, advanced to the halfway line and, despite having four players in close proximity to the ball, stopped and played it backwards rather than bursting forward. It is difficult to predict how Argentina will line-up against Germany in the final.

31 SPORT 31 Brazil relish one of the best Cups despite heartbreak I can say this tournament is undoubtedly a great success: Blatter RIO DE JANEIRO: Well before the first kick-off, the World Cup was playing against the odds, with Brazil rushing to finish stadiums, chaos at airports and violent protests in the streets. But a month after the first game, Argentina s team is preparing to play Germany in today s final, capping a tournament where football reigned, with beautiful goals and drama on the pitch, while doomsday scenarios never materialised. When the continent-sized nation won the right to host the Cup in 2007, it wanted to show it was not just the home of the beautiful game but also an emerging power that can organise the sport s biggest events. While Brazil s national team was knocked out in a humiliating 7-1 semi-final defeat to Germany, the government is declaring that the tournament itself was a success. We were able to do the Cup even though they said it would be chaos, President Dilma Rousseff, who is seeking reelection in October, said on Friday. Brazil is huge, it has a lot of defects and cities have big problems, said Lamartine da Costa, a sports events expert at the Rio de Janeiro State University. But it is the world s seventh economy. Amid the confusion, when there s a need to get things done, things generally work out. While the stadiums were finished just in time, many of the promised public transport projects were delayed until after Ticket executive will be exonerated, says FIFA RIO DE JANEIRO: FIFA said yesterday it was confident a World Cup ticketing services executive accused by Brazilian authorities of illegally selling match passes would be exonerated. Briton Ray Whelan, a director of FIFA partner Match Services, left his Rio hotel before police could detain him Thursday but his firm insisted he was not fleeing justice. Match Services AG is a wholly owned subsidiary of Byrom plc, a British-based company which has provided services to FIFA and World Cup Local Organising Committees since Based on the experience gained throughout almost 30 years of collaboration with Byrom plc, FIFA trusts in the loyal and respectable business behavior of Byrom plc, FIFA said in a statement. FIFA is confident that an assessment of all facts and underlying business concepts will exonerate the staff and principals of Byrom plc, world football s governing body added, stressing it was committed to fighting scalping. Police sought Whelan after a judge ordered him and 10 other suspects to be held in detention over a World Cup ticket fraud involving 1,000 tickets per match alleged to be worth tens of millions of dollars. Match said Friday the term fugitive was not appropriate as Whelan was with his lawyer who would re-submit a legal challenge to the arrest order against him after Brazilian authorities turned down an initial request. the tournament. And the worst defeat in the five-time champion team s history laid bare a football crisis in the country that gave the world Pele, Garrincha, Zico and Neymar. While the Selecao was humiliated, the other teams put on a show that made it an exciting tournament full of surprises and goals. It was one of the best World Cups when it comes to technique, although it become a bit more tense closer to the final, Brazil s 1994 World Cup champion and former midfielder Rai said. The group phase saw the Netherlands trounce defending champions Spain 5-1. Emotions Colombian singer Shakira smiles during a news conference at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, yesterday. Shakira will perform along with Mexican and American musician Carlos Santana during the closing ceremony, before the World Cup final between Germany and Argentina today. RIGHT: Brazilian football legend Pele poses after receiving from 46-year-old industrial engineer Jarbas Menighini (out of frame), his handmade replica of the FIFA World Cup trophy at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, yesterday. ran high for Brazil, with goalkeeper Julio Cesar breaking down in tears before becoming the hero in a penalty shootout against Chile in the last-16 round. Off the pitch, tourists were delighted by the warmth of the Brazilian people across the nation of sun, samba and picturesque beaches. Up to 25,000 people from around the world would attend official Fan Fest public screenings at the 12 host cities. The tourism ministry expects to exceed a forecast of 600,000 visitors, double the figure from the 2010 tournament in South Africa. This is my 20th World Cup and I can say that this Cup is undoubtedly a great success, FIFA president Sepp Blatter said. Where are the problems that could have happened? The country did flirt with a major tragedy when an unfinished highway overpass that was part of the Cup-related projects collapsed on four vehicles, including part of a crowded bus, in the southeastern city of Belo Horizonte. Two people died. At the airports, traffic was intense but escaped major issues. From June 12 to July 10, more than 15 million people went through the country s airports, with 6.6 percent running late and a cancellation rate of 5.4 percent. By comparison, 7.6 percent of flights in Europe were late in 2013, according to the Brazilian civil aviation agency. Fears of chaos came after the Confederations Cup was marked by massive protests last year, when Brazilians flooded the streets to criticize the World Cup s record $11bn spending and demand better hospitals, public transport and schools. But protests were small during the World Cup as football passion took over. For the World Cup final, authorities are deploying a record 26,000 police and soldiers in Rio. A protest has been called near the Maracana. Life will not be same for Scolari BRASILIA: Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari admitted that a traumatic last six weeks both on and off the field will mark him for the rest of his life. Lots of things have changed and have impacted on my life for better or for worse. In the coming days I will try to get on with my life, that I have left behind a little bit in recent days, said Scolari. I will talk a bit with my family about everything that happened and get on with my life as normal, although of course it will not be the same. Nothing will be the same as it was before the squad got together, he added. Brazil s World Cup dream was left in tatters when they suffered a record 7-1 defeat to Germany in Tuesday s semi-final in Belo Horizonte, with Scolari labelling that day as the worst of his life. But he has experienced tragedy off the field too. Just days before Brazil s first World Cup match last month, he discovered that his nephew had been killed in a car crash. That came just weeks after his brother-in-law died in similar circumstances. Scolari s contract as Brazil coach will run out after the third position match, although there have been suggestions that the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) might ask him to stay on until the end of the year. My job began and ends with the World Cup, he said at a press conference at the Mane Garrincha National Stadium. After that we will look at what I did right and wrong. In about a Brazil s head coach Luiz Felipe Scolari attends a news conference at Mane Garrincha National Stadium in Brasilia on Friday. year and a half there have been a lot of very good things - we can t only look to the result of one match. We can t say the whole job was badly done because of one result, added Scolari, who said that he had not had any discussions regarding his future with current CBF president Jose Maria Marin or the incoming president Marco Polo. Scolari took over for a second spell as Brazil coach in late 2012, replacing the sacked Mano Menezes. Having led Brazil to glory at the 2002 World Cup in Japan, he hoped to repeat the feat this year on home soil. The aim was to get to the final and I didn t do it. If we had lost 1-0 instead of 7-1 it would not have been catastrophic but we would have lost all the same. I have a squad that played the Confederations Cup and won and were very good. They are young. Finishing in the top four is not the end of the world, said Scolari, who believes that the majority of his squad will be present at the next tournament in Russia in And to motivate his side for Saturday s game, he used the example of Germany, who beat his Portugal team 3-1 on home soil in the third-place play-off at the 2006 World Cup with a lineup containing players who have helped them reach the final this time. We didn t make our dream come true but now we must go after another smaller dream and finish third, he insisted. Liverpool skipper praises departing Suarez LONDON: Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard (pictured) paid an emotional tribute to Luis Suarez as the Uruguay striker s move to Barcelona was confirmed on Friday. Suarez will make a 75m switch to the Nou Camp after agreeing a five-year contract with the Spanish club. England midfielder Gerrard, who rates Suarez as the best individual he has played alongside, took to Instagram to post a picture of the pair celebrating together. On an emotional day for me would just like to say what a pleasure it has been playing with an amazing talent such as Luis, Gerrard wrote along the picture. I would like to thank him for his outstanding contribution on the pitch during his and to wish him and his family all the best on his new adventure in Spain. #lfclegend. While Gerrard was clearly frustrated to see Suarez leave, his former Liverpool team-mate Jamie Carragher believes now is the right time to cash in on the former Ajax forward. Carragher played alongside Suarez for two and a half years before retiring last year and admits that while it is a blow to lose a striker who scored 82 goals in 133 appearances, it was the end of the road for him at Anfield after biting Chiellini. Luis was the best LFC player I played with bar (Steven) Gerrard. Gutted he s gone but was inevitable he would go to Spain one day, Carragher wrote on Twitter. It was the right time for everyone he wanted to go we got a good price considering incident at WC (World Cup). I would sign one striker as we have (Rickie) Lambert and hopefully a promising Belgian (Lille s Divock Origi) alongside Sturridge - you need four. Quotes of the World Cup A selection of the best quotes from the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Brazil 1 Germany 7. That semi-final Brazil entered the semi-final against Germany as joint favourites to win the World Cup but exited in pitiful fashion, losing 7-1 in one of the most incredible matches seen in the tournament s long history. I m going to be remembered probably because I lost 7-1, the worst defeat in Brazil s history, but that was a risk I knew I was running when I walked into this position. Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari. What was that? Hard to believe, former West Germany World Cup winning captain and coach Franz Beckenbauer. In nigh on half a century of watching football, that s the most extraordinary, staggering, bewildering game I ve ever witnessed, former England striker Gary Lineker. I didn t like Brazil from the start, but I didn t think Germany were going to be so imposing, so devastating, so decisive, Diego Maradona. Luis Suarez bites Giorgio Chiellini When the Uruguayan striker bit his Italian opponent towards the end of their Group D clash the World Cup had a major flashpoint that everyone had an opinion on. We were both just there inside the area. He shoved me with his shoulder, and my eye got left like that also, Suarez said afterwards in reference to Chiellini s mark. Such behaviour cannot be tolerated on any football pitch, and in particular not at a FIFA World Cup when the eyes of millions of people are on the stars on the field, FIFA said in a statement upon delivering their World Cup record four month ban from all football and nine international match suspension. They can t forgive Uruguay that a son of the people has eliminated two of football s big nations, so they invented a whole case, Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro said after Uruguay knocked out England and Italy. Neymar injury The Brazilian talisman had his World Cup ended at the quarterfinals after he suffered a cracked vertebrae following a tackle by Juna Zuniga of Colombia. God blessed me, Neymar said, breaking down in tears. If it had been another two centimetres I could be in a wheelchair today. It was a very violent, unlawful tackle. It was an evil tackle, Former Brazil striker Ronaldo. In my opinion, it was a cowardly tackle. I m a defender and you don t do that, Brazil captain Thiago Silva When a team loses a player of such great qualities, it s as if football has shed a tear, Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella. I was not thinking of hurting him. I was defending my country s colours, Zuniga said. Lionel Messi The Argentina skipper was one of the most discussed players at the World Cup after his mazy dribbles and goalscoring exploits took the South Americans to a first final in 24 years. Messi could be the best player in the world - if he was human, - Iran coach Carlos Queiroz after the little magician came up with a 91st minute winner to down the Asians. Thank God El Enano (the Dwarf) rubbed the lamp at the end. Argentina goalkeeper Sergio Romero said of the late winner. Messi is one of heck of a player. He s blessed. There are good calibre players in the team but Messi is from Jupiter. Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi.

32 Sport Sunday 13 July Ramadan 1435 Volume 19 Number 6125 Price: QR2 Available every Wednesdays in all leading supermarkets and shops in Qatar & Bahrain Frenchman Kadri wins stage eight Draw on the cards after records tumble Sport 28 Sport 29 Editorial: Advertising: / More misery for Brazil as Netherlands finish third Cup hosts lose back-to-back home games for the first time since 1940 BRASILIA: Brazil s traumatic World Cup ended with more pain yesterday as they lost 3-0 to a superior Netherlands side in the third-place play-off at the Mane Garrincha National Stadium in Brasilia. Still struggling to digest their record-breaking 7-1 loss to Germany in the semi-finals, Brazil had a similarly disastrous start against the Dutch, with Robin van Persie opening the scoring from the penalty spot inside three minutes. With injured star Neymar watching on from the bench, Daley Blind then capitalised on more calamitous defending to make it 2-0 with 17 minutes played, and Georginio Wijnaldum rubbed salt into the hosts wounds by adding a third in injury time. Brazil have now lost back-toback home games for the first time since 1940, and they end the tournament having conceded 14 goals altogether, the most of any side at a World Cup since 1986 and the most ever for a host team. In contrast, Louis van Gaal s Netherlands leave with the consolation of taking third place and end the competition unbeaten, with their semi-final exit against Argentina only coming after a penalty shoot-out. The day had not started well for Holland, who saw playmaker Wesley Sneijder withdraw at the last minute due to an injury suffered in the warm-up, with Jonathan de Guzman replacing him in the starting line-up. Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari had made six changes to his team Neymar on the World Cup best player shortlist RIO DE JANEIRO: Brazil s injured star Neymar is on a shortlist for the World Cup s best player which also includes seven names from today s World Cup final between Germany and Argentina. Lionel Messi, Javier Mascherano and Angel Di Maria from Argentina are on the list announced by FIFA on Friday. Captain Messi has scored four goals heading into the final. Germany have four representatives, led by skipper Phillip Lahm, five-goal scorer Thomas Mueller, Toni Kroos, and Mats Hummel. Neymar, who scored four goals before he suffered a fractured vertebrae, Colombia s hot shot James Rodriguez, with six goals, and the Netherlands veteran forward Arjen Robben make up the 10. Past winners of the Golden Ball award for the best player include Uruguyay s Diego Forlan (2010), Zindeine Zidane (2006), German goalkeeper Oliver Kahn (2002) and Argentine legend Diego Maradona (1986). The top goalkeeper award will be chosen from Keylor Navas of Costa Rica, Germany s Manuel Neuer, and Sergio Romero, the Argentine who saved two penalties in the semi-final shoot-out with Holland. Netherlands team pose a group photo with their medals after winning the third place play-off match against Brazil during the 2014 FIFA World Cup at the National Stadium in Brasilia, Brazil, yesterday. Netherlands won 3-0. following the Germany debacle, with one seeing captain Thiago Silva make his return after suspension. The absence of Silva, along with that of Neymar, was a contributing factor in the semi-final humiliation, but the usually inspirational centre-back was at fault as Brazil conceded a penalty with less than two minutes played. Silva was caught the wrong side of Arjen Robben as the winger latched onto a pass from Holland captain van Persie and was left with a clear path on goal. Robben was pulled back by the defender, with the contact starting outside the box and carrying on into the area. Algerian referee Djamel Haimoudi decided to award a spot-kick but controversially opted against showing Silva a straight red card. If Silva was let off the hook, van Persie made no mistake from the spot, lashing his kick high into the top right-hand corner to give goalkeeper Julio Cesar no chance. Once again Brazil s defensive frailties were hopelessly exposed when the Netherlands second goal arrived in the 17th minute. De Guzman broke in behind Maxwell in the Brazilian leftback position and got to the byeline, from where his cross was headed back out by David Luiz and straight into the path of Blind, who had time to take the ball down 12 yards out and volley home. Fortunately for a fragile Brazilian side, Holland were not quite as relentless in their attacking as the Germans had been in Belo Horizonte, but the hosts never appeared capable of breaking down the opposition defence. While Jo, starting in attack instead of the much-maligned Fred, toiled against van Gaal s well-drilled three-man central defence, Jasper Cillessen saved comfortably from Oscar, the most enterprising Brazilian on the field. At the other end, Julio Cesar got down well to keep out a van Persie volley, but Brazil still needed to become the first side World Cup Photo of the day to recover from a two-goal halftime deficit and win a World Cup match. They had little sympathy from the referee as they chased the game, however. When Oscar went down in the box following a Blind challenge midway through the second period, the official booked the little midfielder for diving rather than point to the spot, summing up a desperate end to the tournament for the hosts. Blind injured himself making the challenge, and his replacement Daryl Janmaat was the provider for the third goal, his low ball from the right being swept home by Wijnaldum. Brazil s defender and captain Thiago Silva (right) fouls Netherlands forward Arjen Robben during the third place play-off match of the 2014 FIFA World Cup at the National Stadium in Brasilia yesterday. Argentina prays for Messi goals in today s final BUENOS AIRES: Everyone in Rosario has a tale to tell about Lionel Messi, the Argentinian city s most famous son who rivals Pope Francis as a national icon. Messi s link to the city has made the people of the port city doubly nervous about today s World Cup final when their country take on Germany in Rio de Janeiro. The Barcelona striker has only scored four goals in the tournament so far. I hope that Messi becomes his old self again Sunday and hits a goal, said Monica Domina who once taught the football genius. Domina admitted she knows little about football, but she is still anxious about today s match. Taxi driver Daniel Rodriguez is able to point out Messi s former home in a working class district away from central Rosario. Everyone else is second class, he said. My grandson went to the same school as Messi and still remembers the little boy with his ball who everyone chased and none could catch, said 80-year-old Elsa Uhrig. Messi is not the only Argentina player from Rosario. Javier Mascherano and Maxi Rodriguez also played for Newell s Old Boys. While Angel di Maria, Ezequiel Garay and Ezequiel Lavezzi were at Rosario Central. But the city on the Parana river clings to the superstar football, four time winner of the world player of the year, even though he left the city at the age of 11. His father lost his job as a steelworker and Barcelona paid for the $900 a month cost for growth hormones to treat his rare condition. Germans ready to make history, says Loew RIO DE JANEIRO: Joachim Loew says Germany is ready to make history by winning today s final to become the first European side to win the World Cup in the Americas. The Germans take on Argentina in the World Cup final at Rio de Janeiro s iconic Maracana Stadium with Loew hoping he and his team can deliver the nation s fourth world title. No European side has won any of the eight World Cups held in the Americas, but Germany coach Loew says his side can write their names in the history books. Regardless of what has happened in the past, it is a matter of winning now and we know we can write history, because Latin American sides have been able to dominate on home soil, said Loew. And why not? It would be an extra joy for us if we were able to win the title on south American soil. This is the sixth time Germany will meet Argentina at the World Cup and the third time in the final -- with both sides tied at 1-1 in terms of the title match. Midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger said the Germans are under no pressure, while Loew played down the importance of his first World Cup final after a decade as either assistant or head coach of Germany. For me, it s not the biggest challenge, each and every knockout match is a special challenge, he said.