Blatter hits back in World Cup 2022 row

Fifa president blames European companies for worker’s conditions. PHOTOS BY NADIR TOOSY

ROME: 

Fifa boss Sepp Blatter hit back at criticism over work conditions on World Cup venues in Qatar, accusing European companies and saying France and Germany pushed the bid for ‘economic interests’.

In a report this week, Amnesty International said migrant workers were being treated like ‘animals’ and urged Fifa to press Qatar to improve the conditions of foreign labourers.

However, Blatter said the blame lay squarely with the European companies operating in the Gulf State.

“The big companies working there are European companies, most of them,” said Blatter. “The constructor is responsible for the workers.

“The Europeans are unhappy but it was pressure from European countries that brought this World Cup to Qatar because there were so many economic interests. It can’t all be on Fifa.”

Following Amnesty’s report, Fifa has already called for Qatar to take concrete steps by March to resolve the issue and Blatter called the situation ‘unacceptable’.

Russia sees 'real opportunity' for Iran nuclear deal

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. PHOTO: AFP/FILE

MOSCOW: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov sees a “real opportunity” for the six-party talks with Iran to reach a deal on Tehran’s disputed nuclear programme, the foreign ministry said Saturday.

In a statement released after Lavrov spoke with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Jarad Zarif in Geneva on Friday evening, the Russian ministry called the meeting “a comprehensive and interested exchange of opinions” about how to end disagreements in the negotiations.

“Lavrov underlined that for the first time in many years, the ’5+1′ and Iran have a real opportunity to come to agreement,” the statement quoted Lavrov as saying at the meeting.

Lavrov is to join his counterparts from the P5+1 group – comprising the United States, Britain, France, Russia, China and Germany – in Geneva on Saturday in a bid to reach an interim accord with Iran on its nuclear programme after a decade of failed efforts.

Lavrov and Zarif discussed “key issues in the parties’ positions, which inhibit reaching decisions,” the statement said, without elaborating.

Lavrov flew to Geneva on Friday and also had a late meeting with European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton. No details of that conversation were released to the media.

Iran, world powers agree nuclear deal

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif hugs French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius after a ceremony at the United Nations in Geneva November 24, 2013. photo: reuters

GENEVA: World powers Sunday agreed a landmark deal with Iran halting parts of its nuclear programme in what US President Barack Obama called “an important first step”.

According to details of the accord agreed in Geneva provided by the White House, Iran has committed to halt uranium enrichment above purities of five percent.

In exchange the deal will afford the Islamic republic some $7 billion in sanctions relief and the powers promised to impose no new sanctions for six months if it sticks by the accord.

The announcement came after more than four days of talks in Geneva between Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council members plus Germany.

British Foreign Secretary William Hague called it “good for the whole world, including Middle Eastern countries and the people of Iran themselves”.

It was the third meeting in Geneva since Hassan Rouhani became Iranian president in August. The reputed moderate has raised hopes for an end to the decade-old standoff over Iran’s nuclear work.

Numerous diplomatic initiatives have failed over the past 10 years to persuade Iran to rein in its programme, which Tehran insists is peaceful but which Western countries suspect is aimed at crafting atomic weapons.

Foreign ministers from the six powers including US Secretary of State John Kerry had jetted into Geneva for the second time in two weeks on Saturday morning after negotiators made good progress.

This “first phase” interim deal is meant to build trust and ease tensions while negotiators push on for a final accord to end once and for all fears that Tehran will acquire an atomic bomb.

It remains to be seen, however, whether the deal, once the details are known, with go down with hardliners in the United States and the Islamic republic, as well as Israel.

Iranians, many of whom see the nuclear programme as source of national pride, are impatient to see a lifting as soon as possible of sanctions that have more than halved Iran’s vital oil exports since mid-2012.

Iran’s currency, the rial, has been depreciated by more than half since late 2011, while inflation has soared to more than 40 percent, according to questionable official figures.

Many in Israel strongly believe that the only aim of Iran — an ally of Hezbollah and embattled Syrian President Bashar al-Assad — is to developed a nuclear arsenal.

Many hardliners in the United States agree, believing that Obama, who in September held an historic phone call with Rouhani, is being too soft on Iran.

As a result Obama will likely find it hard to persuade lawmakers to roll back any of the oil and financial sanctions and trade restrictions imposed by Congress.

Israel, itself widely assumed to  be the Middle East’s only nuclear-armed nation, has refused to rule out military action against its arch rival.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dismissed Rouhani’s overtures to the international community as an empty charm offensive.

He has campaigned tirelessly against the mooted deal, believing that it still leaves Iran with the capability to make nuclear weapons.

Fresh contract in the bag: NADRA expands global footprint

The authority – a self-reliant rarity in the government sector – makes waves at home and overseas, says its chief. DESIGN: KIRAN SHAHID

ISLAMABAD: 

By successfully executing identification related projects in a number of developing countries, National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has broken the international monopoly once enjoyed by Western companies.

Just recently, it won the first phase of the Sri Lankan government’s identity cards project, through open bidding. This, in itself, is a milestone, and the authority now seems well poised to be awarded the next phases of this multi-million-dollar project as well.

“Up until now, NADRA services have been acquired by the governments of Nigeria, Sudan, and recently Sri Lanka for identification programmes,” says Tariq Malik, the authority’s chairman, with pride. “[Furthermore], Kenya’s passport system has been developed and is being maintained [by NADRA] since 2007.”

The accomplishments do not end here.

“The International Driver’s Licence System of Bangladesh was delivered on BOT (build operate and transfer) basis, and the authority assisted the UNHCR in the registration of Afghan nationals residing in Pakistan as well,” adds Malik.

According to him, the organisation has carried out World Bank projects and is on the lookout for more international ventures.

As per the Italian World Congress global rating, NADRA is ranked among top identity management providers of the world.

How did it come about?

Malik, who is himself an IT expert and the winner of various international awards, believes the credit for these achievements must be given to his team of technical experts.

Historically, European banknote manufacturers had a monopoly over such contracts, and in the presence of such giants, it was not an easy task for public or private sector companies from the developing world to bravely enter the market.

Today, the banking system, voter lists, and passports are all integrated with NADRA’s database.

“Ever since the successful execution of the Computerized National Identity Card (CNIC) project in Pakistan, we have been trying to leverage the experience to sell similar systems to different governments around the world. This is not only to generate valuable foreign exchange through knowledge-based exports but also to assist in enhancing the image of the country,” explains the chief.

Back in 2008, NADRA had just two months’ worth of employee salaries in its account. Now, its revenue amounts to several billion rupees. The body is one of the few government sector organisations self-reliant in financial matters.

Although Malik cannot share the exact income, he does state that 50 per cent of their revenue comes in from foreign projects.

Due to these external ventures, NADRA has been able to subsidise services for its own citizens.

“We have delivered over 30 million CNICs free of cost for Pakistani citizens who apply for CNIC for the first time,” says Malik jubilantly.

The winning bid

Sri Lanka expressed desire for international tenders for its computerized identity cards project back in 2007.  NADRA’s bid was one of the most technically competent – almost half the price of the competitors.

However, the tender scrapped at that time. This year, the Sri Lankan government invited bids once again and NADRA was declared to be the successful bidder for the first phase.

Consequently, it will carry out the first of the threephase project, which amounts to 715 million in Sri Lankan rupees and is focused on the digitisation of legacy data of over 9 million forms.

According to Malik, NADRA, which has digitised over 150 million articles since its inception, has unmatched experience in digitization and by winning the first phase, it has an edge over competitors to acquire the next phases, too.

The organization will employ over 1,500 locals for the execution of its first project in Sri Lanka.

Organic growth

“The advantage that we have over global competitors is that NADRA does registration for living. Its system has evolved over the last decade and incorporates the new technologies and trends in the international markets,” says Malik.

Another advantage NADRA enjoys is the transfer of technology which the competition cannot offer.

Apart from civil registration solutions, the NADRA teams specialise in the development of machine readable passport solutions, integrated border management solutions, social safety net Solutions, biometric based G2P and P2P solutions, and making these systems cost effective.

“NADRA is the classic example of one of the many islands of excellence in this country,” maintains a confident Malik

Graft’ prone: UK official takes swipe at ethnic minorities

Says politicians need to wake up, singles out Pakistanis.

UK Attorney General Dominic Grieve on Saturday said politicians needed to wake up to the growing problem of corruption within some ethnic communities, BBC Urdu has reported.

Talking to The Telegraph, he said his remarks mainly referred to those in the Pakistani community but said that he would not narrow down the issue to one ethnic group

He said corruption was also found in white skinned Caucasian people but its rise was due to the ethnic minorities who had roots in countries where corruption had become endemic.

“It is something as politicians we have to wake up to,” he said.

He said many people had come from societies where they have been brought up to believe they could only get certain things through a favour culture.

“One of the things you have to make absolutely clear is that that is not the case and it’s not acceptable.”

The attorney also pinpointed electoral fraud as an area of concern, which echoes comments made in 2010 by Conservative MP Baroness Warsi.

Lady Warsi told the New Statesman magazine there were “at least three seats where we lost, where we didn’t gain the seat, based on electoral fraud” and said the problems were “predominantly within the Asian community”.

According to Express.co.uk, Labour MP Khalid Mahmood told BBC Radio 5 Live that he was disturbed by Grieve’s comments.

He said the attorney general was trying to ‘divide and conquer’ within communities.

“I’m profoundly disturbed at a statement from such a senior Conservative MP against the British Pakistani community,” he told BBC Radio 5 live, adding that this [such statements] did not help bring communities together

Afghan assembly begins giving US pact verdict

File photo of US troops in Afghanistan. PHOTO: AFP/FILE

KABUL: An Afghan grand assembly began delivering its verdict on a crucial security pact with the United States Sunday, following concern over conditions attached by President Hamid Karzai and warnings from Washington.

The 50 committees of the “loya jirga” gathering of about 2,500 chieftains, tribal elders and politicians gave their assessment of the deal one by one at the conclusion of four days of discussions under tight security in Kabul.

Almost all of the first 20 committees to declare endorsed the painstakingly negotiated Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) governing the presence of US troops in Afghanistan after 2014.

Some even suggested adding an extra US base in the province of Bamiyan, while more than half of them urged Karzai to get the BSA signed into effect before the presidential election next year.

In his opening statement on Thursday, Karzai told the meeting that the deal would not be signed until after April’s poll – sparking a strong response from Washington, which wants it sealed by the end of this year.

Karzai’s spokesman Aimal Faizi told AFP that the president would explain the reasons for his stance in his closing speech to the jirga.

Karzai’s conditions also include an end to military operations on Afghan homes and cooperation in the peace and election processes, Faizi said Saturday.

The State Department warned that failure to sign the pact – which governs the conditions of any post-war American counter-terrorism and training mission in Afghanistan – could jeopardise billions in vital aid to the war-torn country.

The White House has said it needs a swift decision to start planning the movement of US troops, and warned that President Barack Obama had not yet decided whether to keep any American forces in Afghanistan at all beyond 2014.

“Karzai doesn’t have the right to say this, he is making a mistake,” Sebghatullah Mujadidi, the head of the jirga, said on Saturday.

“They (the Americans) have accepted all the conditions set out by him and us. It would hurt Afghanistan if he does not accept it,” he added.

Amir Mohammad Akhnudzada, a delegate from the volatile southern province of Helmand, said: “I think President Karzai should respect the decision of the Afghan elders, and all the delegates want this Bilateral Security Agreement signed as soon as possible.”

If the loya jirga approves the pact it must be approved by the Afghan parliament before it can go into effect.

Supporters say the deal is vital for post-2014, when the bulk of NATO’s 75,000 troops will pull out. The Taliban insurgency this year has reached levels of violence not seen since 2010, according to the United Nations.

Karzai told delegates that the BSA would allow up to 15,000 foreign troops to stay in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan goes to the polls on April 5 to elect a successor to Karzai, who must step down after his two terms. A credible election is seen as crucial to the country’s future stability.

On Saturday, delegates debated the legal oversight of US troops who remain in Afghanistan after 2014.

A draft text released by Kabul last week appeared to show Karzai had bowed to a US demand that American troops remain exempt from Afghan jurisdiction if they are accused of crimes.

A similar security deal between the United States and Iraq collapsed in 2011 over the issue of whether American troops would be answerable to local courts, leading Washington to pull its forces out

Xbox One take-off: Microsoft sells ‘more than a million’ consoles

Customers hold aloft their Xbox One consoles purchased during a midnight launch event in New York November 22, 2013. PHOTO: REUTERS

SAN FRANCISCO: 

The United States-based technology giant Microsoft announced that more than a million Xbox One consoles were sold within 24 hours in 13 countries after hitting the shelves. Microsoft described it as the biggest launch in Xbox history, setting a new sales record.  Xbox One consoles were sold out almost all of the retail shops, according to the US-based titan.

“We are humbled and grateful for the excitement of Xbox fans around the world,” said Xbox corporate vice president of marketing Yusuf Mehdi. “Seeing thousands of excited fans lined up to get their Xbox One and their love for gaming was truly a special moment for everyone on the Xbox team.”

The sale of the keenly-awaited system took off in more than a dozen countries including New Zealand, Australia, France, Britain, Brazil and the United States as day dawned in respective time zones.

Many staked out a spot in front of consumer electronic shops to first get their hands on Microsoft’s beefed-up console that extends beyond gaming to online films, music, social networking and more. “It’s a big upgrade, a big change,” said 23-year-old Jonathan Guerrero, who camped out at the front of the line at a Best Buy electronics shop in Northern California 13 hours before the consoles went on sale a minute into Friday.

Hassan Ali, 34, said he queued to get an Xbox One because he has an ideal television for the rich graphics it pumps out. He described his set as a 3-D, high-definition, smart television with a 65-inch screen. “It’s kind of amazing that you can look at the game and it looks like real life,” said Ali, who spoke of loving video games since his first Sega device in 1985.

The Xbox One, successor to the Xbox 360, the top-selling console in North America, debuted at $500 boasts an upgrade that provides rich graphics and more immersive game play than its predecessors. Social features for online play have also been enhanced, along with the ability to share with friends.